Psychopathology associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: a methodological review

Psychiatric dysfunction is believed to be a common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In fact, psychosis is 1 of 11 criteria the American Rheumatism Association used to provide a classification scheme for the disease. Nonpsychotic symptomatology also is frequently attributed to SLE disease pathophysiology. This article is a methodological review of the literature relating to the prevalence of psychiatric dysfunction and whether these problems can be attributed to disease activity. Given the serious methodological limitations in the available literature, definitive point prevalence or lifetime prevalence estimates for psychopathology in patients with SLE are not available. In addition, there is no conclusive evidence that the disease causes nonpsychotic psychiatric dysfunction in these patients.