Relationship between anxiety and depression, dyspnea severity, and pulmonary function in connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease

Anxiety and depression in patients with CTD-ILD constituted a bidirectional negative feedback loop involving pulmonary function impairment, inflammatory activity, and dyspnea. Psychological disorders were identified as independent risk factors for deterioration of pulmonary function. Psychological evaluation and intervention should be integrated clinically to block brain-lung axis-mediated neuroendocrine-immune network imbalance and improve prognosis.