The development of depressive symptoms among women with rheumatoid arthritis. The role of function
Related Experiment Videos
Arthritis and Rheumatism
|January 1, 1995
Abstract
Objective:
To examine the role of function and functional changes in the development of depressive symptoms among women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods:
Data from a longitudinal panel study of persons with RA were used. Functional changes were assessed from 1989 to 1991, and depressive symptoms during 1992.
Results:
Loss of valued activities was a significant risk factor for the developing depressive symptoms (i.e., score of > or = 7 on the Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale), but overall functional decline was not.
Conclusion:
The aspect of functional decline that leads to development of depressive symptoms is the loss of valued activities, not simply the functional impairment.