老年男性慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并焦虑抑郁状态临床研究

目的 通过对老年男性慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者伴随焦虑抑郁状态发病率及临床资料分析,探讨影响其发生的相关因素,从而为COPD伴随焦虑抑郁状态的临床诊治提供帮助.方法 选取符合COPD诊断标准的老年男性急性发作期(AECOPD)住院患者38例,进行汉密尔顿焦虑抑郁量表问卷调查.结果 老年男性AECOPD合并焦虑抑郁状态发生率较高(18/38,47.4％),AECOPD合并焦虑抑郁组COPD评估测试(CAT)评分、改良英国MRC呼吸困难指数(MMRC)分级、前1年急性加重次数及C反应蛋白(CRP)水平高于无焦虑抑郁组(P＜0.05),第1秒用力呼气容积占预计值百分比(FEV1％ pred)[(35.78±17.25)％ vs (50.91±20.00)％]、第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)与用力肺活量(FVC)比值(FEV1/FVC) (35.78±17.25)％ vs (50.91±20.00)％低于无焦虑抑郁组(P＜0.05),而两组在年龄、体质量指数、吸烟指数、戒烟年限、COPD病程、本次住院时间及血气分析方面差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 老年男性AECOPD容易合并焦虑抑郁状态.老年男性AECOPD合并焦虑抑郁状态与肺功能受损程度、CAT评分、MMRC分级、前1年急性加重次数有关.老年男性AECOPD合并焦虑抑郁状态的患者CRP水平明显增加,说明COPD合并焦虑抑郁可能与炎症反应有关.     

理论结合体验教育护理在COPD急性加重期患者无创正压通气治疗中的影响分析

目的 探究理论结合体验教育护理在COPD急性加重期患者无创正压通气治疗中的影响。方法 选取2016年1月至2017年6月在无锡市第五人民医院进行常规护理并接受无创正压通气治疗的COPD急性加重期患者40例作为对照组，再选取2017年7月至2018年12月进行理论结合体验教育护理并接受无创正压通气治疗的COPD急性加重期患者40例作为观察组。对比两组护理前后生活质量、焦虑状况及护理满意度。结果 观察组护理3个月后生理功能、生理职能、躯体疼痛、一般健康状况、活力、社会功能、情感职能及精神健康评分均高于对照组（P＜0.05）；观察组护理3个月后焦虑状况低于对照组（P＜0.05）；观察组护理3个月后护理满意度高于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论 理论结合体验教育护理应用于COPD急性加重期患者无创正压通气治疗中可显著改善患者生活质量，提高护理满意度，并有效缓解患者焦虑，值得推广。     

Chest physiotherapy for patients admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a systematic review

Objectives

To examine the effectiveness of chest physiotherapy for patients admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Data source

CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, Expanded Academic Index, Clinical Evidence, PEDro, Pubmed, Web of Knowledge and Proquest were searched from the earliest available time to September 2007, using the key elements of COPD, acute exacerbation and chest physiotherapy interventions.

Review methods

To be included, trials had to investigate patients during admission to hospital with an acute exacerbation of COPD, and to evaluate at least one physiotherapy intervention. Two reviewers independently applied the inclusion criteria, and assessed trial quality using the PEDro scale. Results were expressed as standardised mean differences and analysed qualitatively with a best-evidence synthesis.

Results

Thirteen trials were identified. There was moderate evidence that intermittent positive pressure ventilation and positive expiratory pressure were effective in improving sputum expectoration. In addition, there was moderate evidence that walking programmes led to benefits in arterial blood gases, lung function, dyspnoea and quality of life. No evidence was found supporting the use of any other chest physiotherapy techniques to change lung function, arterial blood gases, perceived level of dyspnoea or quality of life.

Conclusions

Chest physiotherapy techniques such as intermittent positive pressure ventilation and positive expiratory pressure may benefit patients with COPD requiring assistance with sputum clearance, while walking programmes may have wider benefits for patients admitted with an exacerbation of COPD. Chest physiotherapy techniques other than percussion are safe for administration to this patient population.     

Study of the burden on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Health‐related quality of life measures are widely used in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, they are extremely limited when used to evaluate patients outside the clinical trials. The aim of this study was to analyse the burden of the disease using a simple, validated, self‐administered questionnaire specifically developed for patients in daily clinical practice. Methods: A total of 3935 patients (74.5% men; mean age, 67 years) participated in a cross‐sectional study. The burden of COPD on patients was measured using the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ). COPD was rated at four levels by the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) according to The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) scale. Results: The disease mainly affects old men (more than 50% were over 65 years of age) and non‐employed men (23% were employed). Of the patients studied, 22.7% continued smoking, especially men (24.4% of men vs. 18.1% of women). Most patients (54%) were diagnosed with moderate stage II COPD. Severity of COPD was lower in women: 29.6% of men had severe COPD compared with 13.7% of women. During the last year, 65.1% had at least one acute exacerbation and 36.6% were admitted to hospital because of COPD exacerbation. No association was found between the body mass index and COPD stage. The variable that most influenced the disease burden was dyspnoea, as progression from grade 0 to grade 4 increased the disease burden by 1.78 points for symptoms, 2.43 for functional state and 1.53 for mental state. The functional classification of COPD also had a significant influence on the disease burden. Conclusions: The present findings show that dyspnoea and the degree of airflow limitation are the clinical variables that most affect the burden of COPD from the patient’s point of view.     

严重烧伤患者早期心理干预的效果

目的探讨对严重烧伤患者早期心理干预的措施。方法根据Roy适应模式、危机干预、积极心理学等理论制定严重烧伤患者的心理干预方案。将47例研究对象按照入院先后顺序分别纳入到对照组和干预组,干预组患者实施心理干预至少2次/周,30min/次。采用医院焦虑抑郁量表、自制烧伤患者心理状况他评表,于患者入院时及入院后1个月评定其心理状态。结果患者入院时焦虑、抑郁检出率分别为89.4%和78.7%;经干预后,干预组患者焦虑、抑郁水平均较对照组患者明显下降,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论心理干预可显著降低严重烧伤患者早期的焦虑、抑郁水平,改善其总体心理状况。     

Effectiveness of acupressure in improving dyspnoea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from dyspnoea in their daily life and this may be increased by anxiety. Acupressure may promote relaxation and relieve dyspnoea. Thus, it is appropriate to explore the effectiveness of acupressure on dyspnoea in patients with COPD. AIMS: To compare outcomes of acupressure using sham acupoints on different meridians and ganglionic sections with that using true acupoints, in patients with COPD who are living at home. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with COPD were selected from a medical centre and three regional hospitals in Taipei. A randomized block experimental design was used. Using age, sex, pulmonary function, smoking, and steroid use as matching factors, 44 patients were randomly assigned either to a true acupoint acupressure or a sham group. The true acupoint acupressure group received a programme to decrease dyspnoea. Those in the sham group received acupressure using sham pressure points. Both acupressure programmes consisted of five sessions per week lasting 16 minutes per session, extending over 4 weeks for a total of 20 sessions. Before acupressure was initiated and at the conclusion of the 20th session, the Pulmonary Functional Status and Dyspnoea Questionnaire-modified scale and the Spielberger State Anxiety scale were administered, and a 6-minute walking distance test was performed. Physiological indicators of oxygen saturation and respiratory rate were measured before and after every session. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that the pulmonary function and dyspnoea scores, 6-minute walking distance measurements, state anxiety scale scores, and physiological indicators of the true acupoint acupressure group improved significantly compared with those of the sham group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that acupressure can be used as a nursing intervention to improve dyspnoea in patients with COPD.     

慢性阻塞性肺病并发抑郁障碍相关因素分析

目的探讨慢性阻塞性肺病患者并发抑郁障碍的相关因素。方法对162例慢性阻塞性肺病患者采用抑郁自评量表与自行设计的影响心理状态因素调查表进行抑郁状况和负性精神因素与抑郁障碍关系的调查。结果49．4％的慢性阻塞性肺病患者存在不同程度的抑郁障碍,其中轻度24．1％,中度16．7％,重度8．6％。慢性阻塞性肺病并发抑郁障碍者较未并发抑郁障碍者的病程长（P〈0．01）．动脉血氧分压和肺通气功能下降,动脉血二氧化碳分压升高（P〈0．01）;抑郁程度分别与生命安全感、无法根治、运动受限、影响家庭关系、经济负担重等因素呈正相关。结论生命安全感缺乏、无法根治、运动受限、影响家庭关系、经济负担重等因素是慢性阻塞性肺病患者易并发抑郁障碍的危险因素。     

心理护理团队对慢阻肺患者焦虑、抑郁情绪的影响及效果评价

目的 探讨心理护理团队对慢阻肺患者焦虑、抑郁情绪的影响和效果。 方法 采用横断面的抽样方法,选取2018年10月—2019年3月的南苑医院呼吸内科54例慢性阻塞性肺疾病并有抑郁或焦虑情绪的患者为调查对象。随机分为对照组和干预组,每组27例,对照组按照常规心理护理,干预组给予心理护理团队进行心理干预,采用SAS和SDS分别于患者入院第1天及第14天进行评分。结果 2周后实验组患者SAS评分(t=4.700,p=0.030)、SDS评分(t=4.112,p=0.040)明显低于对照组且低于入院时,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)；接受心理护理团队干预的患者平均住院时间(16.22±1.78)天短于未接受心理干预者(22.04±6.38)天,满意度高于未接受干预者,两组间的差异具有统计学意义(P ＜ 0.001)。结论 组建心理护理团队能够有效改善患者焦虑和抑郁情绪,减轻家庭经济负担,提高患者满意度。     

无创呼吸机在COPD急性发作早期治疗和延迟治疗的对比研究

目的探讨无创呼吸机早期治疗和延迟治疗在慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)急性发作早期治疗中的临床价值。方法 COPD急性发作期的患者,根据给予无创呼吸机辅助治疗时间分为两组,分别为延迟治疗组40例,早期治疗组43例。延迟治疗组采用给氧、抗感染、抗炎、解痉、平喘及祛痰等常规治疗,经过一段时间常规治疗后未缓解者,给予无创呼吸机治辅助呼吸,其中有部分病患者需要行插管或气管切开后给予呼吸机治疗。早期治疗组在常规治疗组的基础上同时早期给予无创呼吸机辅助治疗。经治疗后3 h观察患者呼吸困难及神智情况、心率(HR)、呼吸频率(RR)、平均动脉压(MBP)等;机械通气前后动脉血氧分压(PaO2)和二氧化碳分压(PaCO2)。观察两组患者的病情好转率、住院时间及气管插管率,并进行统计学分析。结果与延迟治疗组比较,早期采用呼吸机治疗的患者心率、呼吸次数、平均动脉压、PaO2、PaCO2改善明显,且差异有显著性(P均<0.05)。早期治疗组患者较延迟治疗组相比较病情好转率高,住院时间缩短;气管插管率降低。结论早期应用无创呼吸机治疗COPD急性发作患者能迅速改善患者症状和低氧血症,提高病情好转率,减少气管插管,是一种快速安全有效地抢救措施。     

生活事件对焦虑、抑郁和焦虑抑郁障碍共病的影响及护理对策

目的探讨焦虑、抑郁和焦虑抑郁障碍共病的相关因素,阐明生活事件对焦虑、抑郁和焦虑抑郁障碍共病的影响,旨在寻求有效的护理对策,对患者实施早期的心理干预,改善患者的心理状态,提高患者的生存质量。方法利用生活事件量表(LES)对57名患者进行调查评定,部分指标与国内常模或正常对照组比较。结果抑郁、焦虑、共病组负性生活事件频度及生活事件总频度得分均高于正常对照组,有统计学意义(P<0.05);而3组患者之间负性生活事件得分比较无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论抑郁、焦虑和焦虑抑郁障碍共病有着很多相似之处,都与生活事件有着密切的相关性,但又有各自的临床特点和表现形式,应针对其特点,有的放矢,实施合理有效的护理措施。     

Development and validation of a risk prediction model for anxiety or depression among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease between 2018 and 2020

Anxiety and depression are important risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model to predict anxiety or depression in COPD patients. The retrospective study was conducted in COPD patients receiving stable treatment between 2018 and 2020 to develop prediction model. The variables, were readily available in clinical practice, were analysed. After data preprocessing, model training and performance evaluation were performed. Validity of the prediction model was verified in 3 comparative model training. Between 2018 and 2020, 375 eligible patients were analysed. Thirteen variables were included into the final model: gender, age, marital status, education level, long-term residence, per capita annual household income, payment method of medical expenses, direct economic costs of treating COPD in the past year, smoking, COPD progression, number of acute exacerbation of COPD in the last year, regular treatment with inhalants and family oxygen therapy. Risk score threshold in each sample in the training set was 1.414. The area under the curve value was respectively 0.763 and 0.702 in the training set and test set, which were higher than three comparative models. The simple prediction model to predict anxiety or depression in patients with COPD has been developed. Based on 13 available data in clinical indicators, the model may serve as an instrument for clinical decision-making for COPD patients who may have anxiety or depression.

Key messages

• Thirteen variables were included into the prediction model.
• The AUC value was, respectively, 0.763 and 0.702 in the training set and test set, which were higher than three comparative models.
• The simple prediction model to predict anxiety or depression in patients with COPD has been developed.

     

冠状动脉介入手术对老年冠心病患者心理状态的影响

目的：探讨老年冠心病患者行冠状动脉介入手术前后的心理变化.方法：采用汉密顿焦虑、抑郁量表进行心理状态评分, 观察焦虑和抑郁是否随血运重建而改善.结果：对108例冠状动脉介入手术成功老年患者进行心理状态评分,应答率为100%.术前63例患焦虑, 其中33例处于焦虑状态 （30.6%）;30例肯定焦虑 （27.8%）,占总调查人数的58.3%.42例患抑郁, 21例处于抑郁状态 （19.4%）,21例肯定抑郁 （19.4%）,占总调查人数的38.9%.出院时,58例仍有焦虑, 32例处于焦虑状态 （29.6%）;26例肯定焦虑 （24.1%）,占总调查人数的53.7%.45例患抑郁,22例处于抑郁状态（20.4%）,23例肯定抑郁 （21.3%）,占总调查人数的41.7%.结论：成功的介入手术并不能明显改善老年冠心病患者的焦虑和抑郁.     

Quality of mental health care for youth with asthma and comorbid anxiety and depression

OBJECTIVES: Youth with asthma have a high rate of anxiety and depressive disorders, and these comorbid disorders are associated with increased asthma symptom burden and functional impairment. This study examined the rates and predictors of recognition of anxiety and depressive disorders among youth (ages 11 to 17) with asthma who are seen in primary care settings as well as the quality of mental health care provided to those with comorbid anxiety and depression over a 12-month period. METHODS: This study used automated utilization and pharmacy data from a health maintenance organization to describe the rate of recognition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, edition IV, anxiety and depressive disorders and the quality of mental health care provided for the 17% of youth with asthma and comorbid anxiety and/or depression during the 12-month period prior to diagnosis. Psychiatric diagnoses were based on a telephone version of the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (Version 4.0). RESULTS: Approximately 35% of youth with 1 or more anxiety and depressive disorders and 43% of those with major depression were recognized by the medical system during a 12-month period. Greater functional impairment (odds ratio [OR] 3.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-8.79), higher severity on parent-rated anxiety and depressive symptoms (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.04-6.00), and a greater number of primary care visits (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.10-1.44) were associated with significantly higher recognition rates while having Medicaid or Washington state medical insurance was associated with lower rates of recognition (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.08-0.92). Only approximately 1 in 5 youths with comorbid major depression received an adequate dosage and duration of antidepressant medication, and only 1 in 6 received a minimally adequate number of psychotherapy sessions (> or =4 visits). CONCLUSION: Rates of recognition of comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders are low in youth with asthma and few youth with asthma and comorbid anxiety and depression receive guideline-level mental health treatment.     

Effect of anxiety and depression on self‐care agency and quality of life in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A questionnaire survey

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects the lives of individuals in a number of ways; it causes an increase in the need for help and support and a decline in self‐care agency and quality of life. This research has been conducted in patients with COPD hospitalized in the Pulmonary Department of Erzincan State Hospital in the eastern Turkey to examine the effect of anxiety and depression on self‐care agency and quality of life (n = 135). The results showed that 69.6% and 85.6% of the patients were at risk for anxiety and depression, respectively, and that the mean scores of self‐care agency and quality of life decreased as the mean scores of anxiety and depression increased. It was also established that the mean score of the quality of life increased as the mean score of self‐care agency went up. It could be concluded that the majority of the patients are at risk for anxiety and depression and that presence of anxiety or depression has a negative effect on the self‐care agency and the quality of life. The recognition and treatment of depression and anxiety in patients with COPD provide significant improvements in self‐care agency and quality of life of patients.     

Factors Associated with Hospital Admission among Emergency Department Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation

Objectives
To determine the patient factors associated with hospital admission among adults who present to the emergency department (ED) with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to determine whether admissions were concordant with recommendations in the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines.
Methods
The authors performed a prospective multicenter cohort study involving 29 EDs in the United States and Canada. By using a standard protocol, consecutive ED patients with COPD exacerbation were interviewed, and their charts were reviewed. Predictors of admission were determined by multivariate logistic regression.
Results
Of 384 patients, 233 (61%; 95% confidence interval = 56% to 66%) were admitted. Multivariate analysis showed that a higher likelihood of admission was associated with older age, female gender, more pack-years of smoking, recent use of inhaled corticosteroid, self-reported activity limitation in the past 24 hours, higher respiratory rate at ED presentation, and a concomitant diagnosis of pneumonia. Patients who reported the ED as their usual site for problem COPD care, or who had mixed COPD and asthma, were less likely to be admitted. The authors confirmed five of the seven testable indications for hospital admission in the GOLD guidelines.
Conclusions
Several patient factors were independently associated with hospital admission among ED patients with COPD exacerbations. Overall, concordance with admission recommendations in the GOLD guidelines was high. The authors also identified a few novel predictors of admission (female gender, ED as the usual site for problem COPD care, mixed diagnosis of COPD and asthma, recent use of inhaled corticosteroid) that require replication in future studies.     

Intravenous magnesium is ineffective in adult asthma, a randomized trial.

Intravenous magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) has been tried in the emergency department treatment of asthma since the mid-1980s, but published reports vary as to its efficacy. The literature suggests that it may be effective in the more severely ill asthmatic. We evaluated i.v. MgSO4 in adult asthmatics having a moderate to severe exacerbation. The study was performed in a convenience sample of adult asthmatics between the ages of 18 and 55 presenting to the emergency department with a peak expiratory flow (PEF) of < 100 l/min or < 25% of predicted flow. Patients received either 2.0 grams of MgSO4 or placebo in a randomized, double-blind fashion. All patients received inhaled bronchodilators and i.v. steroids. Outcome variables were: improvement in PEF, subjective respiratory distress as measured by the Borg dyspnoea scale (BDS) and hospital admission. The first visits of 42 patients presenting with acute asthma exacerbations were evaluated, 18 receiving MgSO4 and 24 receiving placebo. The t = 60 peak flow in the MgSO4 group was 174 l/min versus 212 l/min in placebo, p = 0.04. Controlling for age, heart rate, initial PEF and initial BDS in ordinal logistic regression, the t = 60 Borg scale of subjective dyspnoea had an odds ratio of 1.54 in favour of more dyspnoea in MgSO4 (95% C.I., 0.36-6.67; p = 0.56). Five of 18 patients (28%) receiving MgSO4 were admitted compared with 5 of 24 (21%) receiving placebo (p = 0.72). In moderately severe adult asthmatics, 2.0 grams of MgSO4 i.v. resulted in less improvement in peak expiratory flow compared with placebo. MgSO4 did not appear to decrease subjective dyspnoea or the hospital admission rate. This evidence does not support the use of MgSO4 in the treatment of acute asthma.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重患者频繁再入院与其危险因素

目的　评价慢性阻塞性肺疾病 (COPD)患者急性加重频繁入院的危险因素。方法　调查两家大型医院因COPD急性加重入院的 196名中重度COPD患者。在患者出院时和出院后一个月稳定状态 ,收集患者的临床性状、社会性状、日常护理因素和过去一年中急性加重入院的频率 ,测定肺功能指标及精神状态。结果　 196例COPD患者中 ,72 %过去一年中有一次以上再入院 ,4 8%有 2次以上 ,8%有超过 10次再入院。单变量分析显示男性、病程长、嗜用镇痛剂和安眠药、第 1秒用力呼气容量占预计值的百分比 (FEV1% ) <4 5 %、缺乏肺康复训练和严重气促与频繁再入院有显著相关性 (P <0 .0 5 )。多变量分析显示病程长 (OR =2 .6 0 )、FEV1% <4 5 % (OR =2 .0 3)、严重气促 (OR =2 .5 0 )和男性 (OR =3.13)与COPD急性加重再入院有独立显著相关性 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　COPD急性加重频繁再入院与COPD严重程度、患者精神抑郁状态及照料这些可改善因素有关     

Clinical characteristics of neutrophilic,eosinophilic and mixed-type exacerbation phenotypes of COPD

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprises a significant number of emergency department (ED) presentations, and hematological phenotypes may have prognostic significance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hematological phenotypes on serious outcomes in COPD exacerbations.MethodsA prospective cohort study was carried out in patients with COPD exacerbation presenting to the ED. The patients were classified into three groups, including neutrophilic, eosinophilic, and mixed-type (including neutrophilic and eosinophilic features) COPD exacerbation. Outcome measures were defined as mortality, hospitalization, and need for intensive care unit (ICU) care within three months, and these outcomes were compared among groups.ResultsA total of 173 COPD patients were assessed for eligibility, and 147 of them were included in the final analysis. The study population consisted of 90 patients with neutrophilic exacerbation (61.2%), 26 patients with eosinophilic exacerbation (17.7%), and 31 patients with mixed-type exacerbation (21.1%). The neutrophilic exacerbation group was older, was more often tachycardic and desaturated, and had more sputum production compared with the eosinophilic exacerbation group. Mortality was seen in 35 patients in the neutrophilic exacerbation group (38.9%), whereas 5 patients in the eosinophilic group (19.2%) and 6 patients in the mixed-type group (19.4%) died (p = .044). No difference was observed among groups in terms of hospital and ICU admission.ConclusionCOPD exacerbations with neutrophilic phenotypes presented to the ED with more serious clinical findings compared with eosinophilic exacerbations. This may also have a possible effect on mortality.     

Why are some patients admitted to psychiatric hospital while others are not? A study assessing risk during the admission interview and relationship to outcome

The aim of this study was to determine what patient characteristics are used to decide whether a patient is or is not admitted to a psychiatric hospital, and what happens to those not admitted. A further aim was to determine if high levels of risk on admission predict seclusions, length of stay, or readmission within 28 days. Data were collected prospectively on consecutive presentations to an admission office via case notes and electronic databases. Eighty percent (100/127) of the adults presenting to the admission office over a typical month were admitted to hospital. Patients were more likely to be admitted if they were experiencing psychosis or exacerbation of schizophrenia, referred by other doctors or mental health teams, had a legal reason for referral, or if they were homeless. There was no association between risk for violence or suicide and seclusion rates, length of stay, or being readmitted within 28 days. It was reassuring to find that 85% of those not admitted were referred to other mental health providers, and none required admission over the following month. This study found high rates of seclusion and readmissions within 1 year, which requires further study to find strategies to reduce these rates.     

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Abstract

Introduction: Harold Shipman, a general practitioner (GP) working near Manchester in England, is thought to have killed 250 of his patients by diamorphine overdose between 1975 and 1998. Opiates are recommended for relieving dyspnoea in end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Little is known about the effect of the Shipman case on clinician attitudes to prescribing of opiates in advanced COPD.

Subjects and methods: Focus groups were held with a total of 39 health professionals in primary (n = 3) and secondary care settings (n = 2) in two sociodemographically contrasting areas of England.

Results: Participants identified that the experience of dyspnoea in end-stage COPD was often distressing for patients, their families and their professional carers. Whilst opiates were recognised to be effective in relieving dyspnoea, the Shipman case, and associated fears of litigation, was identified as the key barrier to prescribing. Whilst this was seen as a particular problem within primary care settings leading, for example, GPs to admit patients to hospital rather than prescribe opiates, it was also considered an issue within acute hospital settings. Of particular concern to participants was recognising when an exacerbation was 'terminal' and hence opiate prescribing appropriate.

Conclusions: There is evidence to show that opiates are effective in managing end-stage dyspnoea in COPD without hastening death. However, participants did not perceive this to be the case and expressed considerable anxiety about appropriate prescribing in this situation. Given the significant burden of dyspnoea on patients with advanced COPD, there is an urgent need for appropriate training to increase clinician confidence regarding opiate use in this patient group which is sensitive to the concerns raised by the Shipman murders.