PREVALENCE OF SELF-REPORTED DEPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

The prevalence of self-reported depressive symptoms was investigated i n a case-control study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) atte nding an out-patient clinic at the Middlesex Hospital. Patients select ed their own controls, matched for age and sex. Previous attempts to m easure depressive symptoms in RA have suffered from measurement error due to criterion contamination, where psychological symptoms augment d epressive scores. A total of 163 patients (77% of the sample) and 115 matched pairs completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD S). The results indicated that RA patients are more depressed and anxi ous than controls. The prevalence of depression above the cut-point wa s 15%. This figure is comparable to other reports adjusted for criteri on contamination, but is lower than that of other studies which employ 'contaminated' tools. The depression scale of the HADS appeared to be relatively free of criterion contamination. Subject to further reliab ility testing, the HADS may be a practical screening tool for practiti oners to assess patients in need of psychological interventions.