Neuropsychiatric questionnaires in systemic lupus erythematosus

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently presents with diverse neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms.
• NP symptoms significantly affect patient outcomes, necessitating regular clinical evaluation.
• Current diagnostic tools for NP involvement in SLE lack optimal accuracy and feasibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role and challenges of assessing NP symptoms in SLE patients.
• To highlight the utility of standardized questionnaires in capturing NP manifestations.
• To advocate for validation and wider implementation of NP assessment tools in SLE.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies assessing NP symptoms in SLE.
• Analysis of the application and limitations of diagnostic tools.
• Evaluation of standardized questionnaires (physician-administered and self-reported).

Main Results:

• NP symptoms in SLE range widely in prevalence and severity.
• Standardized questionnaires aid in identifying subtle NP symptoms like cognitive impairment and psychiatric issues.
• Few SLE-specific NP questionnaires exist, with pending validation and cross-cultural adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Validation studies and wider implementation of NP assessment questionnaires are warranted for SLE patients.
• Standardized assessment can improve prevalence definition and facilitate prospective studies.
• Broader use of questionnaires can clarify the clinical significance of mild NP symptoms and their impact on quality of life.