The psychosocial effects of rheumatoid arthritis on the patient and the well partner

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disorder that can have a severe impa ct on patient's lives. This present study investigated four questions regar ding the psychosocial effects on patients and their well partners. First we found that depression for both patients and partners were slightly elevate d and 35.7% of patients and 23.3% of well partners had scores above the cut -off for possible clinical depression on the Center for Epidemiological Stu dies Depression Scale. Second, there was no significant difference between the patients' level of distress and that of the partners. Third, there were moderate positive correlations between patients' and partners' scores on m easures of psychological functioning. Fourth, there were no differences in either the patients' or partners' well-being based on the gender of the pat ient. Finally, an exploratory analysis was conducted to examine the factors which influence the patients' and partners' depression and their view of t he relationship. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.