PSYCHOSOCIAL CHANGES IN PATIENTS PARTICIPATING IN A CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Changes in physical competence, respiratory symptoms, well-being, emot ional state, level of depression, every-day coping skills, and general activity and independence were studied in 40 chronic obstructive pulm onary disease patients participating in an intensive 3-week rehabilita tion program. Both patient. and staff ratings were used. Expectations and attitudes prior to rehabilitation were also measured. The study de sign included a 3-week basal period, a 3-week rehabilitation period an d a 6-month follow-up. The immediate effects of rehabilitation on the variables which described subjective experiences were positive: well-b eing, emotional state and respiratory symptoms improved significantly (p < 0.001, p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). By the end of the fo llow-up period, however, all the treatment effects had dissipated. No significant effects of rehabilitation could be seen in every-day copin g skills, general activity and independence or level of depression. It was not possible to predict the rehabilitation response on the basis of the patients' attitudes, expectations, level of depression or age. We conclude that pulmonary rehabilitation causes transient improvement in respiratory symptoms and some subjectively characterized psychosoc ial variables and that this improvement is unpredictable by attitude a nd expectation variables.