Can depression worsen RA symptoms or make treatment less effective?

Roughly one in six people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffers from depression. Common symptoms of depression, such as fatigue, achiness, and difficulty completing activities of daily life (for example, dressing, cooking, cleaning), can mimic the symptoms of an arthritis flare. It is also possible that depression can contribute to a flare. So untangling the relationship between depression and RA flare is a challenge. Recently, a team of researchers set out to do just that. They studied 379 people with RA who were already enrolled in a trial to compare different medications for the treatment of their arthritis. Participants were asked to describe their feelings using one of the following sentences: “I am not anxious or depressed,” “I am moderately anxious or depressed,” or “I am extremely anxious or depressed.” This assessment was administered alongside standard scales used to measure whether RA symptoms are getting better or worse, or remaining stable (what doctors call disease activity). The researchers found that the participants reporting more anxiety and depression had higher disease activity scores. They also reported more tender joints and, when asked about their symptoms, they themselves rated their disease activity as higher. At the same time, depression and anxiety seemed to have no effect on the number of swollen joints found during physical exams or the level of inflammation in the body as measured by a blood test called ESR (also known as the sedimen...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Depression Arthritis RA symptoms rheumatoid arthritis Source Type: news