Coping strategies and affect in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. Relationship to pain and disability

Affective state and utilization of coping strategies are factors that may be related to pain and disability in chronic disease, but may also be interrelated. The relationship of coping strategies and affect to both concurrent and 18-month follow-up pain and disability was studied in 60 women with rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis of < 8 years' duration. The type of coping strategy used was not associated with concurrent mood level. After accounting for physical variables, mood and strategy use were significantly, and largely independently, related to concurrent pain and disability measures. Future disability was not predicted by either mood or coping strategy use. These results show that mood and use of coping strategies are significantly related to concurrent function but, perhaps due to the variable nature of the disease process, are not predictive of future function. The clinical implications of this study are that interventions to promote better adjustment for people with rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis should target both mood and coping strategies, as both may contribute independently to adjustment.