OBJECTIVES: Although depression is a significant co-morbid condition in chronic illness, little is known about the prevalence or risk factors for depressive symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in India.  A study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of depression in the Indian COPD patients. METHODS: COPD was classified according to GOLD stages based on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in 126 stable patients. Depression was examined by administering the nine-item Hindi version of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Linear regression model was used to examine association between predictor variables and risk of depression with adjustment of age and sex. Cronbach alpha was calculated to assess internal consistency of PHQ-9.  RESULTS: Patients with stable COPD (n=126) were evaluated (73.8% male and 26.2% female). In the study population as whole, 33.3% patients showed moderate to severe depressive symptoms whereas 20.6% patients had major depressive disorder on PHQ-9 Scale. Educational and occupational status, body mass index, FEV1, respiratory symptoms, physical impairment and dyspnea were found to be potential predictors of depression in COPD patients. CONCLUSIONS: One fifth of the patients with COPD had severe symptoms of related to depression, which was especially higher with severity of COPD.  Hence, the patients with COPD should focus on management of these two conditions. Further, future studies should be conducted to assess the role of depression management and timely treatment of it in the patients with COPD.