Depression and Anxiety in the Cystic Fibrosis Population

Cystic fibrosis has been associated with higher risks of depression and anxiety in both patients and their caretakers. Anxiety specifically has been found to be the driving force of the psychopathology. Proposed causes of depression and anxiety in CF patients include pulmonary symptoms, especially dyspnea and air hunger, as well as vitamin D deficiency, abnormal body image, social stigma, time-consuming treatment regimens, and facing their own mortality at a young age. The cystic fibrosis care guidelines do not currently address screening for depression and anxiety or recommend disease-specific treatment. Depression and anxiety are very treatable as primary processes; thus, as the longevity of CF patients increases, more focus is being placed on addressing screening and treatment of psychopathology in patients affected by the disease.