ArticleBMJ open2026
'It helps my anxiety because I'm managing my breathlessness': a qualitative exploration of anxiety and breathlessness in patients with advanced chronic respiratory disease receiving specialist palliative care.
Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Non-Pharmacological Breathlessness Action Plans for People with COPD and Their Support People: A Scoping Review and Survey of Current Practice.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2026Article
- Psychiatric comorbidities in patients with interstitial lung diseases: A narrative review of epidemiology, clinical impact, and integrated care strategies.Therapeutic advances in respiratory diseaseReview
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo explore the lived experiences of anxiety related to breathlessness in patients who are receiving specialist palliative care for advanced chronic respiratory disease (CRD), such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung diseases.
designThis qualitative exploration formed part of a mixed-methods feasibility study of a novel intervention. Participants receiving specialist palliative care for CRD engaged in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
settingTwo hospice sites in a single UK region.
participants11 participants were included in the analysis (7 male participants and 4 female participants with an age range of 49-75 years). Ethnicities were self-reported as white British (n=8) and Asian/British Asian (n=3).
resultsThree key organising themes emerged: (1) Understanding my breathlessness-participants described their breathlessness as progressive, frightening and restrictive. (2) Understanding my anxiety-described as emotional distress with a profound physical component, often compounded by external life stressors. (3) Vicious circle interlinks breathlessness and anxiety-a circular bi-directional relationship where anxiety could not be separated from breathlessness. Participants often employed non-pharmacological strategies to manage both their anxiety and breathlessness interdependently.
conclusionsOur findings provide insight into the intricate relationship between anxiety and breathlessness in patients with a range of CRD. There is an ongoing need for holistic support for patients with anxiety related to breathlessness in non-malignant conditions.
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