DSM-III-R criteria applied in the evaluation of 88 systemic lupus eryt
hematosus patients revealed a point prevalence rate of 18.2% for psych
iatric disorders, the most common diagnosis being adjustment disorder
(11.4%), No patients had disorders compatible with a functional psycho
sis. Psychiatric morbidity was not associated with increased disease a
ctivity, corticosteroid use, brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormal
ities, or electroencephalogram abnormalities. High scores on a life ev
ent scale were associated with psychiatric disorders, suggesting that
psychosocial stress is etiologically important. Cognitive testing show
ed that poor performance on the Stroop Colour-Word Inference Test was
associated with psychiatric disorders.