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Dispositional Affect in Unique Subgroups of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Danielle B Rice1, Swati Mehta2, Janet E Pope3
1Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada N6C 0A7; St. Joseph's Health Care, Parkwood Institute, London, ON, Canada N6C 0A7.
Pain Research & Management
|July 23, 2016
Summary
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be grouped by dispositional affect. One subgroup shows higher scores in negative affect, leading to greater mood impairment and pain catastrophizing.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Psychology
- Health Outcomes
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with certain dispositional affect patterns face worse outcomes.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for targeted patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify subgroups of RA patients based on dispositional affect.
- To compare mood, pain catastrophizing, fear of pain, disability, and quality of life between these subgroups.
Main Methods:
- Cluster analysis was used to categorize 227 RA outpatients into subgroups based on dispositional affect.
- Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) compared outcome differences between clusters.
Main Results:
- Two distinct subgroups emerged: Cluster 1 (n=85) and Cluster 2 (n=142).
- Cluster 1 patients reported significantly higher scores for experiential avoidance, anxiety sensitivity, worry, fear of pain, and perfectionism (p < 0.001).
- Cluster 1 also exhibited greater mood impairment, pain anxiety sensitivity, and pain catastrophizing (p < 0.001), but no differences in quality of life or disability were found.
Conclusions:
- A distinct subgroup of RA patients characterized by higher dispositional affect scores was identified.
- This subgroup experiences increased mood impairment, pain anxiety sensitivity, and pain catastrophizing.
- Tailoring interventions based on dispositional affect subgroups may improve care for RA patients.
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