The association of respiratory sensations with depressive mood is distinct from the association with anxious mood

It has been shown that general negative affect can distort self report of symptoms. Little is known, however, about the relationship of specific symptom-qualities with specific emotional states such as anxious and depressive mood. Possible distinct biological links between these mood states and dysregulation of ventilation have been suggested. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of the report of different qualities of dyspnea with anxious and depressive mood.One hundred and ninety-nine healthy individuals rated sensation descriptors of different qualities of breathlessness and completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Data was analysed using hierarchical linear regression and extreme group comparison of individuals high and low in depressive mood.Depressive mood remained a significant predictor for reported ventilatory impairment such as feelings of obstruction and arrest of breathing after controlling for anxious mood, but not for feelings of increased ventilatory activity such as effort and struggling for air.In interpreting self report of symptoms such as respiratory sensations, depressive mood needs to be considered as a confounding factor distinct from anxious mood. Partialing out self reported negative affect in analysing self report data should be considered with care only. These findings encourage further research on depression and breathing dysregulation.