Anxiety and depression levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients before and after joint replacement procedure

The progression of the inflammatory process in the course of rheumatoid arthiritis (RA) may cause a permanent destruction of joints, which in case of bigger ones (i.e. hip or knee) may be particularly a psychological burden for a patient.

The aim of the study was to verify whether implantation of hip or knee endoprosthesis affect anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients with RA.

The study enrolled a group of 128 rheumatoid arthritis patients, including 64 patients before and 64 patients after the joint replacement procedure. Anxiety was assessed using State- Trait Anxiety Inventory and depression - Beck Depression Inventory.

Patients before the endoprosthesis implantation scored statistically significantly higher on the state anxiety scale than patients after the procedure (43.17±10.69 vs 36.95±10.63, p<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in trait anxiety scores between patients before and after alloplasty (p=0.28). Patients before the procedure scored statistically significantly higher on BDI than patients after the joint replacement (15.28±8.99 vs 11.48±8.45, p<0.05).

Patients with RA after knee or hip alloplasty had lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms than patient before the procedure. Endoprosthesis implantation as a treatment option for severe joint destruction in RA might also improve depressive symptoms and anxiety among patients with RA.