International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Improving Physiological, Physical, and Psychological Health Outcomes in Individuals with COPD

Optimal management of COPD includes non-pharmacological interventions including pulmonary rehabilitation, smoking cessation, disease self-management, medication adherence, routine vaccinations, oxygen therapy and ventilatory support, and physical activity promotion. This Article Collection highlights new and innovative non-pharmacological interventions for improving physiological, physical, and psychological outcomes in individuals with COPD.

COPD is a leading cause of morbidity, disability, and mortality worldwide. The disease affects the whole person impacting physiological (e.g., lung function), physical (e.g., physical activity, exercise capacity), and psychological (i.e., depression) outcomes. Non-pharmacological interventions are part of guideline-based care for COPD. Yet, gaps in the management of COPD exist. Many non-pharmacological interventions are underutilized and/or benefits dwindle over time. For example, while pulmonary rehabilitation remains the gold-standard for improving an array of health outcomes, it remains severely underused and benefits begin to wane after 12 months. New and novel non-pharmacological intervention can supplement existing non-pharmacological interventions for individuals with COPD with the potential to improve physiological, physical, and psychological outcomes.

This Article Collection seeks articles focused on intervention development and testing (from preliminary/pilot to effectiveness, implementation and dissemination studies) of interventions targeting improvement in physiological, physical, and/or psychological outcomes. We welcome original research articles, short reports, and systematic reviews. Study protocols of highly innovative non-pharmacological interventions will also be considered. Interventions may include a single component (e.g., balance training) or multiple components (e.g., complex behavioural interventions). Interventions that include chronic pain management, treatment of sleep disturbances, integrative therapies such as mind-body interventions, and psychotherapies (i.e., cognitive behavioural therapy) are salient to this Article Collection. Outcomes should broadly fall within the categories of: physiological, physical, and psychological domains and may include primary and/or secondary outcomes, as well as secondary analysis of completed trials. Moderator and/or mediation analyses of completed trials asking how and for whom interventions work are also welcomed.

Keywords

• Non-pharmacological interventions
• Physiological
• Physical
• Psychological
• Outcomes­­

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is July 31, 2026

Please contact Zhiyuan Zhang at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Guest Advisors

Patricia M. Bamonti, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, is a Staff Psychologist at VA Boston Healthcare System. Dr. Bamonti studies the impact of depression and anxiety symptoms on health outcomes in the context of pulmonary rehabilitation and physical activity interventions. She is currently developing and testing an integrated physical activity intervention with cognitive behavioural therapy for individuals with COPD and comorbid depression and/or anxiety.

Marilyn L. Moy, M.D., M.Sc., Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, is a Staff Pulmonary Physician at VA Boston Healthcare System. She is Medical Director of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Dr. Moy studies the role of physical activity in the risk stratification of COPD, technology-based interventions to promote PA, and the biological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of PA on COPD outcomes.