Editorial: The psychological challenges of respiratory disease

Lives of people who suffer from respiratory diseases, such as complex asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), are disturbed by many different factors. In addition to clinical comorbidities, psychological and neuropsychological problems are frequent in respiratory diseases and may affect the health care process as well as rehabilitation delivery and outcome. While the impact is unique for each individual, key areas of difficulty include fear of breathlessness, reduced activity levels, fatigue, lowered self-efficacy and energy, disrupted relationships, anxiety and significantly lowered mood. For many, the physical symptoms of breathlessness are exacerbated by anxiety and panic in a vicious cycle of escalating breathlessness, physiological arousal and further panic. The meaning of the lung condition for an individual can be informed by illness perceptions not necessarily supported by medical understanding, and thus misinterpretation of bodily sensations can fuel anxiety and fears. Finally, it is very complex to define the role of these factors in the management processes of medical therapies, as well as those requiring physical activity or the use of devices. This article collection aims to present the most recent advances in research on the psychological factors involved in the respiratory diseases, as well as their implications in the health management process.