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Depression, anxiety may reduce remission in patients with RA, PsA
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Depression and anxiety may reduce the likelihood of remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in patients with psoriatic arthritis, according to a recently published study.
“[Depression] and anxiety were found to be strong, negative predictors of joint remission at 3 and 6 months treatment in [rheumatoid arthritis] RA and partly in [psoriatic arthritis] PsA, according to various remission as well as depression/anxiety criteria,” Brigitte Michelsen, MD, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and colleagues wrote. “Depression and anxiety were associated to more subjectively weighted measures, but not acute phase reactants and swollen joint count during follow-up.”
Researchers assessed 1,326 patients with RA and 728 patients with PsA. Investigators found baseline depression and anxiety were linked with increased global assessment by the patient and evaluator, tender joint count and joint pain for RA; however, there were no associations for swollen joint count or acute phase reactants. In addition, associations for PsA did not reach significance for all analyses.
“These observations support a focus on depression and anxiety as comorbidities in a treat-to-target strategy,” the researchers wrote. – by Will Offit
Disclosure s : Michelsen reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other relevant financial disclosures.
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