Key result
Psychological problems affect ~49% of women with rheumatoid arthritis and link to higher disease activity.
Why the study?
Anxiety and depression occur in a significant number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, likely due to chronic physical symptoms such as pain and disability.
Cross-Sectional (n=100)
No
Effect estimate: r = 0.329
p-value: p=0.001
A considerable portion of women with rheumatoid arthritis experience psychological problems, which correlate with more severe and prolonged disease activity.
May warrant psychological screening in women with active RA; cross-sectional data leave causality and intervention effects open.
BACKGROUND: Chronic diseases are usually accompanied by psychological abnormalities. Anxiety and depression occur in a significant number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These psychological problems are likely, to be the results of chronic physical symptoms such as pain and disability. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was the evaluation of mental health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred women with definite diagnosis of RA were evaluated in the outpatient clinic of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences during one year period. Activity of RA disease was determined according to the Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) scaling system and mental health was evaluated using the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). Based on the cut of point score of 22, prevalence of psychological problems was determined and a comparison was made the between two groups (with and without psychological problems). RESULTS: GHQ28 screening test showed that psychological problems were seen in 49% of studied patients. There were significant difference between duration of disease and DAS-28 score between the two groups (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). Somatic symptoms were more frequent in patients with psychological problems (P = 0.001). Somatic symptoms in patient with high disease activity was also more frequent than the other group (P = 0.002). There was a significant positive correlation between the scores of DAS-28 and GHQ-28 (r = 0.329, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a considerable portion of patients with RA may have mental problems. The probability of these problems increased with more severe and more prolonged disease.
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Kolahi et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Rheumatoid arthritis (n=100). Rheumatoid arthritis disease activity and duration vs. Lower disease activity and shorter duration was evaluated on Prevalence of psychological problems (GHQ-28 score ≥ 22) and correlation with disease activity (DAS-28) (r = 0.329, p=0.001). Psychological problems affected 49% of women with rheumatoid arthritis and significantly correlated with higher disease activity (r = 0.329, P = 0.001) and longer disease duration.
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