Emotional status in systemic lupus erythematosus

Psychological and emotional status was assessed in 36 patients with systemi c lupus erythematosus (SLE) with the General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-3 0) and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPT)questionnaires. Th e two tests were found to measure different aspects of psychological functi oning. More than 50% of the patients could be classified as cases with mild psychiatric disturbances, according to the GHQ, and 28% had an abnormal sc ore >70 on the MMPI depression subscale, indicating significant depression. Emotional disturbances such as problems with social functioning, personal discomfort in social situations, and depressive mood, were frequent and ass ociated with skin and joint abnormalities. This suggests additional etiolog ies for psychological dysfunction among SLE patients other than the direct central nervous system (CNS) effect of SLE.