Confidence in medical care linked to depression in lupus sufferers

This cross-sectional study was performed to provide a preliminary investigation of the relationship between patient satisfaction with medical care and depression among individuals diagnosed with lupus.

A mail-out questionnaire was completed by 154 members of the Lupus Australia Foundation and the Lupus Association of New South Wales. Each questionnaire consisted of the Lupus Medical and Symptoms Questionnaire, Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-Third Edition, and Cardiac Depression Scale.

Participants reported, on average, a moderate level of illness severity and pain associated with lupus. The majority of participants reported moderate to severe depression and a moderate level of satisfaction with medical care. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that 40% of the variance in depression scores could be explained by negative illness factors and dissatisfaction with medical care. In particular, depression was associated with the technical quality of medical care, pain levels, and perceived severity of illness.

This research identified that patient confidence in the competency of the medical practitioner was an important factor in the experience of depression. These findings indicate the need for both medical practitioners and mental health professionals to acknowledge the interrelationship between medical and psychological factors in patients with chronic illnesses such as lupus.