[Subjective happiness and psychological condition in SLE]

We reported the relationship between subjective happiness and psychological condition to investigate which factor effects the quality of life (QOL) in 18 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compared them with age, sex and dose of steroid matched 18 patients with chronic glomerular nephritis (CGN). The patients were evaluated in morale scale-revised (Japanese version) which is a standard method of evaluating subjective happiness in relation to QOL. State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) of Spielberger was used for evaluation of anxiety condition with self rating depression scale (SDS) of Zung in evaluation of depressive state. We examined the relationship between morale scale and SDS and morale scale and STAI. The relationship between morale scale and age; period of the disease, dose of steroid and activity were also investigated. There were no significant differences between the groups on morale scale, SDS and STAI and there were no significant correlations between morale scale and age; period of the disease and the dose of steroid in the both groups. There were correlations between morale scale and state and trait anxiety in the group with SLE and morale scale and trait anxiety in the group with CGN. We concluded that anxiety decreased the QOL in patients with SLE and CGN.