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Sertraline Effects on Dyspnea in Patients With Obstructive Airways Disease

Received October 30, 1996; revised January 29, 1997; accepted March 4, 1997. From the Department of Psychiatry and Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Address reprint requests to Dr. Smoller, Anxiety Disorders Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, ACC–815, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA 02114. E-mail: smoller{at}warren.med.harvard.edu

Dyspnea can have a debilitating effect on psychosocial and physical functioning in patients with chronic obstructive airways disease. Previous research has suggested that treatment of concomitant mood or anxiety symptoms can improve dyspnea and exercise intolerance among patients with respiratory disease. The authors report here on a case series of 7 patients with obstructive airways disease who reported improvements in dyspnea after sertraline 25–100 mg/day was added to their medication regimens. Four of the seven patients did not appear to meet syndromal criteria for a mood or anxiety disorder. Subjective improvements in dyspnea may have been related to relief of mood or anxiety symptoms or to direct effects on central respiratory systems. Controlled studies are needed to clarify the potential antidyspneic effects of sertraline.

Key Words: Sertraline • Dyspnea • Obstructive Airways Disease

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