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[Depressive tendency in patients with RA].
Masao Yukioka1, Yoshio Komatsubara, Akira Maeda
1Department of Orthopedics, Yukioka Hospital, Osaka-city.
Ryumachi. [Rheumatism]
|August 9, 2002
Summary
Approximately 39% of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients experience depression. Steroid use was associated with higher depression scores (SDS), indicating a potential risk factor for mental health in RA management.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Research
Context:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease impacting joints and potentially mental health.
- Depression is a common comorbidity in chronic inflammatory conditions.
- Understanding depression prevalence and risk factors in RA is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose:
- To ascertain the prevalence of depression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
- To identify potential risk factors associated with depression in this cohort.
- To investigate the correlation between depression scores and clinical/demographic variables.
Summary:
- A study of 287 RA in-patients and outpatients assessed depression using Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS).
- Nearly 39% of patients exhibited depressive tendencies.
- Higher SDS scores correlated significantly with the face scale and visual analog scale (VAS), but not with BSG, CRP, age, or disease duration. Patients on steroid therapy showed significantly higher SDS scores compared to non-steroid users.
Impact:
- Identifies a significant prevalence of depression among RA patients.
- Highlights steroid therapy as a potential risk factor for depression in RA.
- Suggests the need for routine depression screening and tailored management strategies in RA care, particularly for steroid users.