Psychological support to patients with respiratory diseases

Abstract:

The earliest postulations about the impact of various health and illness factors and course of treatment emphasize the importance of considering the person as a whole, with his/hers biological, psychological and social characteristics. Chronic illnesses require this type of approach for proper understanding and treatment. Pulmonary chronic diseases are highly specific for their dominant symptom of breathlessness and can be fatal to the well-being of patients. In addition to a significantly reduced quality of life, patients often suffer from psychological difficulties in coping with the constraints arising from the progression of the disease. Research results confirm beneficial effects of psychological support for pulmonary patients. A mechanism that connects psychological and emotional symptoms with physical symptoms of the disease is yet to be discovered. 

Key words:
biopsychosocal factors; chronic pulmonary diseases; psychological support; quality of life