PSYCHOLOGICAL-FACTORS IN SARCOIDOSIS - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIFE STRESS AND PULMONARY-FUNCTION

Seventeen patients with diagnosed sarcoidosis were administered a numb er of psychological instruments to assess anxiety, depression, life st ress, and symptoms of agoraphobia and/or panic. These patients were th en followed medically for a period of nine months. Scores on the vario us psychological tests were then compared with results obtained from r epeated pulmonary function tests. Results showed a consistent relation ship between increased life stress at time one and impairment in lung function throughout the study period. In addition, no consistent set o f psychiatric symptoms were associated with the disease. Sarcoid patie nts did, however, report many symptoms similar to patients with agorap hobia. These results are discussed in terms of the potential benefits of stress reduction treatment as an adjunctive therapy for patients wi th sarcoidosis.