Korean J Psychosom Med.  2021 Dec;29(2):162-168. 10.22722/KJPM.2021.29.2.162.

Dysfunctional Breathing in Anxiety and Depressive Disorder

• Sohn I
• Nam B
• Hong J
• Lee J

• KMID: 2524298
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22722/KJPM.2021.29.2.162

Abstract

Objectives
：Although dysfunctional breathing is a common symptom in general population and affects qual-ities of life, it is still underdiagnosed. There are some studies of prevalence of it in astma, but few studies in anxiety and depressive disorders. The purposes of this study were to explore the prevalence of it in anxiety and depressive disorders, and to investigate whether anxiety and depressed mood influence it.
Methods
：135 patients diagnosed with anxiety or depressive disorders, and 124 controls were recruited. Ni-jmegen questionnaire was used to assess dysfunctional breathing, and Hospital anxiety depression scale was used.
Results
：The prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in anxiety or depressive disorders was higher than that in control. In the linear regression model, anxiety accounted for 59.6% of dysfunctional breathing, but depressed mood did not. With covariate adjusted for anxiety, scores of dysfunctional breathing in anxiety or depressive disorders were higher than in controls.
Conclusions
：Dysfunctional breathing in anxiety or depressive disorders is higher than that in control. Adjust-ing anxiety, its difference is still. Anxiety affects dysfunctional breathing, but depressed mood does not.

Keyword

Dysfunctional breathing; Hyperventilation; Nijmegen questionnaire; Anxiety disorder