The frequency and factors affecting anxiety and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Anxiety and depression are important problems in patients with RA. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and the factors affecting depression and anxiety in patients with RA.

One hundred and eighty-two patients with RA, aged 18-85 years, were included in this study. The diagnosis of RA was established according to ACR/EULAR RA classification criteria from 2010. Psychosis, pregnancy, breastfeeding and malignancy were exclusion criteria. The demographic data as well as disease duration, educational status, Disease Activity Score with 28-joint counts (DAS28), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were the parameters used in the analysis.

Depression symptoms were present in 50.3%, anxiety in 25.3% of the studied patients. In patients with depression and/or anxiety HAQ and DAS28 scores were higher than other studied RA patients. Depression was determined at significantly higher rates in females, housewives and those with a low education level. Anxiety was determined significantly more often in blue-collar workers.

In the present study, depression and anxiety were observed at high rates in patients with RA. These results confirm the real problem in RA patients in comparison to the general population. This points to the relationship between inflammation and depression and anxiety. Psychiatric evaluations and mental status assessment should not be forgotten together with physical examinations of RA patients.