View clinical trials related to Breathlessness.
Filter by:A growing body of physiological evidence now exists to support a potential role for inhaled cannabis in the medical management of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly as it may related to improving pulmonary function, alleviating the symptom of breathlessness and improving exercise endurance. The purpose of this randomized double-blind crossover trials is to evaluate the efficacy and physiological mechanism(s) of action of inhaled vaporized cannabis targeted to relief of physical activity-related breathlessness and exercise endurance in symptomatic patients with severe-to-very severe COPD.
Dysfunctional breathing (DB) is a respiratory condition characterised by an abnormal breathing pattern, among other complaints, that can occur either in the absence of other pathophysiology (primary DB), e.g. anxiety-related factors, or secondary to cardiopulmonary disease (secondary DB), e.g. asthma. As a consequence, patients may experience breathlessness and present with periods of increased ventilation or erratic breathing, interspersed with episodes of breath holding or deep sighs. In addition to respiratory symptoms, DB also generates non- respiratory symptoms (e.g. dizziness and increased heart rate). It is estimated 1 in 10 people in the United Kingdom (UK) have DB. However, DB remains poorly understood, with no standardised approach to diagnosis and assessment. The purposes of this study are: Study 1) To identify physiological, functional and psychological characteristics of participants with DB compared to healthy participants. Firstly, symptoms, lung function, respiratory gas analysis, exercise capacity, respiratory muscle function, respiratory motion, level of physical activity, quality of life and anxiety & depression scores will be assessed in 20 participants with primary DB, 20 with secondary DB and compared to 20 healthy participants. Study 2) To develop an assessment tool based on physiological, functional or psychological variables found to be different between any of the 3 groups in Study 1. In order to do that, 54 people with DB (between primary and secondary) and 27 people presenting with breathlessness secondary to restrictive lung disease will be assessed. Analysis of these data will determine whether these variables can be used as a diagnostic tool capable of distinguishing DB from restrictive lung diseases characterised by breathlessness. The recruitment period will be 1-2 years, with an individual participation of 9 days; 1-day on site testing, plus 7-day home activity monitoring, and 1 day to return the activity monitor (which will happen whenever the participant needs to return to the site).
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive lung disease of unknown cause for which there is no effective medical treatment. The main symptoms are increasing breathlessness and cough which can significantly impact on quality of life (QOL) often leading to anxiety and depression. The focus of disease management is shifting from pharmacological attempts to reduce disease progression to managing symptoms and a more holistic approach. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is increasingly used to treat anxiety and depression in chronic disease. Our investigators aim to determine whether CBT can reduce anxiety and depression related to symptoms and improve QOL in patients with IPF. This study will compare CBT intervention (Group 1) against standard treatment (Group 2). Patients will be recruited from a specialist IPF clinic - all patients attending with IPF who suffer from anxiety will be eligible to participate in the study. The study aims to recruit 30 patients (15 in each group). Patients will be randomly allocated into each group using an envelope concealment system. At entry a baseline visit will be conducted with information gathered regarding disease severity, hospital admissions, medication, symptoms (subjective and objective), quality of life and anxiety and depression using questionnaires and routine clinical tests. Patients will then receive CBT intervention (Group 1) or no intervention (Group 2). Patients receiving CBT will undergo a maximum of 6 (minimum of 2) individual therapy sessions. Follow up visits for both groups will be conducted at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months with the same information gathered as at the baseline visit.