Psychological factors in sarcoidosis: the relationship between life stress and pulmonary function.

Seventeen patients with diagnosed sarcoidosis were administered a number of psychological instruments to assess anxiety, depression, life stress, and symptoms of agoraphobia and/or panic. These patients were then followed medically for a period of nine months. Scores on the various psychological tests were then compared with results obtained from repeated pulmonary function tests. Results showed a consistent relationship between increased life stress at time one and impairment in lung function throughout the study period. In addition, no consistent set of psychiatric symptoms were associated with the disease. Sarcoid patients did, however, report many symptoms similar to patients with agoraphobia. These results are discussed in terms of the potential benefits of stress reduction treatment as an adjunctive therapy for patients with sarcoidosis.