BACKGROUND: Most studies on mental health among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) utilize screening questionnaires, which detect psychiatric METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of a multicenter study designed to evaluate anxiety questionnaires in COPD patients. Research coordinators administered both the MINI and screening questionnaires to determine participants who met diagnostic criteria for depression/anxiety disorders and to capture symptom burden, respectively. Bivariate analyses were conducted to assess differences in COPD and patient-reported outcomes between those with and without depression/anxiety disorders. RESULTS: Of 220 participants, 18 (8%) met the MINI criteria for depression and 17 (8%) for anxiety. Depression was associated with more breathlessness (modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale 4 versus 3, CONCLUSION: Depression and anxiety disorders meeting diagnostic criteria are relatively common comorbidities that substantially impair quality of life and are undertreated, highlighting a need to prioritize mental health as an integral part of comprehensive COPD care.