In patients with rheumatic diseases, appearance concerns are strongly related to depression. This is the result of a current study from Australia, published in the March issue of Arthritis Care and Research. Therefore the authors recommend to assess physical appearance concerns routinely in this group.
Louise Sharpe and colleagues from the University of Sydney in New South Wales evaluated 60 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 44 with chronic rheumatoid arthritis and 53 with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis. The participants completed a variety of questionnaires regarding their physical and mental health. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, joint assessment was additionally performed by a specialized nurse.
The researchers found increased levels of psychological distress in all three groups. More than half of the SLE patients reported feeling unattractive because of their disease compared with just about one third of the patients with chronic and new-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Appearance concerns raised the risk of depression in all patients, whereas physical disability only showed an effect on the arthritis group.
"What this study highlights is that appearance concerns and depression is closely interrelated," the authors note, "and that it is important that they be considered together in the psychological functioning of patients with rheumatic disease." JG
Arthritis Care and Research (2007); 57: 303-9
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