The effects of cognitive distortion and depression on disability in rheumatoid arthritis

The question explored in this study was: What is the effect of cognitive distortion and depression on disability in arthritis patients when stage of disease is controlled? Patients (N = 165) completed the Sickness Impact Profile, two Cognitive Error Questionnaires, and the Symptom Questionnaire, and were staged for severity of disease. Findings indicated a significant effect of distortion on disability in rheumatoid arthritis patients; however, this effect varied by stage. Distortion and depression best explained total disability in Stage II (R2 = .60 using general distortion; R2 = .58 using arthritis distortion). Future nursing interventions designed to decrease or prevent distortion might reduce disability as well as depression.