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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Evaluation of depression and anxiety in patients with systemic sclerosis
Cécile Legendre1, Yannick Allanore, Isabelle Ferrand
1Rheumatology Department A, Cochin Teaching Hospital, Paris V University, AP-HP, 27 rue du faubourg St Jacques, 75014 Paris, France.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients receiving follow-up in France for systemic sclerosis.
Patients:
We prospectively evaluated 42 patients admitted for a follow-up evaluation of systemic sclerosis, including 18 with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma and 24 with limited cutaneous scleroderma. Patients admitted for recent organ involvement were excluded. Mean age was 57 +/- 13 years, mean disease duration was 10.2 +/- 8 years, and the mean functional Health Assessment Questionnaire score was 0.682 +/- 0.649. Only four patients had a history of antidepressive drug therapy. We used the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale to evaluate depression and anxiety, respectively.
Results:
Eighteen (43%) patients met criteria for depression and 11 (26%) had scores above the cutoff usually taken to define moderate-to-severe depression. Twenty-seven (64%) patients met criteria for minor anxiety and eight (19%) for major anxiety. Depression and anxiety were strongly correlated with each other (r = 0.89; P < 0.0001). The MADRS score was significantly higher in the patients with pulmonary restrictive disease (P = 0.009) but was not associated with the extent of skin involvement, organ involvement, or disability.
Conclusion:
Systemic scleroderma is associated with a high prevalence of depression and anxiety. These disorders should be looked for routinely and the need for specific treatment evaluated.
