Depression, anxiety and chronic pain in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the influence of breath.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problems, causing significant mortality and morbidity in the world. It is a complex and progressive disease, characterized by chronic inflammation and dysfunction of the respiratory airways. The article reviews the available information on the potential role of the diaphragm in this disease. The purpose is to identify a potential correlation between symptoms such as depression, anxiety and chronic pain, frequently observed in COPD, with the activity of the diaphragm. The morphology and metabolism of the diaphragm are usually modified in the presence of COPD: a correlation between this symptoms and a pathological adaptation of breathing can be hypothesized. The management of these conditions should always be multidisciplinary, in order to have a global vision of the patient.