PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH EARLY RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

We report the interaction of RA and psychological factors over 2 years in a group of 89 patients with newly established disease. Short-time outcome regarding physical features was fairly good. Disease activity decreased, and disability evaluated by HAQ remained at a low level. Ps ychological distress as measured by the depression and anxiety subscal es of SCL 90 (Symptom Check List) was not very pronounced and not rela ted to disease state factors. A slight decrease of anxiety was recorde d after 2 years. A new adjustment test was applied. It contained 13 it ems focused mainly on negative illness effects such as loss of indepen dence, feelings of guilt, and change of social and leisure time activi ties. Three factors (regret of lost life values, dysphoric mood, and a cceptance) explained 48% of the variance of the 13 items. The validity of the test was acceptable. The patients' degree of adjustment change d slowly or not at all during the 2 years.