Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Preliminary Study on Acupuncture Combined with Grain-sized Moxibustion for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Finger Joint Pain
Published on: May 16, 2025
Explanatory Style in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Unrecognized Predictor of Mortality
Aaron D Crowson1,2, Robert C Colligan1,2, Eric L Matteson1,2
1From the Department of Health Sciences Research, the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, and the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Objective:
To determine whether pessimistic explanatory style altered the risk for and mortality of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods:
The study included subjects from a population-based cohort with incident RA and a non-RA comparison cohort who completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.
Results:
Among 148 RA and 135 non-RA subjects, pessimism was associated with development of rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive RA. Pessimism was associated with an increased risk of mortality [HR 2.88 with similar magnitude to RF+ (HR 2.28)].
Conclusion:
Pessimistic explanatory style was associated with an increased risk of developing RA and increased mortality rate in patients with RA.
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Rheumatic Heart Disease IV: Nursing Management

