OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of psychotherapy on the anxiety and depression levels of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: A blind, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatient university pulmonary rehabilitation program in Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients with COPD (mean age 60.33y; 22 men) attending a pulmonary rehabilitation program were randomized into 2 groups: experimental group (G1) and control group (G2). Both groups underwent a 12-week treatment program. INTERVENTIONS: Group 1 (n = 14) participated in 24 sessions of physical exercise, 24 sessions of physiotherapy, 12 psychologic sessions, and 3 educational sessions. Group 2 did not participate in psychotherapy sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All patients were evaluated at baseline and at completion of the pulmonary rehabilitation program by using 3 instruments: the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). RESULTS: Both groups showed statistically significant improvements on the 6MWD (G1, p < 0.001; G2, p = 0.03). Only G1 had a significant reduction in anxiety and depression levels (G1: BAI, p < 0.001; BDI, p < 0.001; G2: BAI, p = 0.156; BDI, p = 0.142). Statistically significant differences existed between G1 and G2 for BAI (p < 0.001) and BDI (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Including psychotherapy in a pulmonary rehabilitation program for COPD reduced patients' anxiety and depression levels but did not modify 6MWD performance.

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