PREVALENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC DISTURBANCES AN D PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL STATUSIN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Background. Psychiatric disorders are commonly associated with systemi c lupus erythematosus (SLE). Some authors consider that these disorder s can be associated with cognitive impairment. Objectives. The objecti ves of this study were to stablish the particular prevalence of psychi atric disorders in these patients and to investigate the relationship between psychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment, life quality, psy chological status and adjustment to illness. Material and methods. A c ross-sectional study is reported of 46 spanish patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) attending the outpatients clinics of the Int ernal Medicine and Rheumatology Departments at a University Hospital. The following instruments were used: a Structured Clinical Interview f or DSM-III-R, the Nottingham Health Profile, the Symptom Check-List 90 -Revised, the Psychological Adjustment to Illnes Scale and the Integra ted Program of Neuropsychological Assessment Test-Barcelona. Results. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders at interview was 33%. The most common diagnoses were affective disorders and psyche-organic syndrome . Affective disorders were associated with a poorer life quality, numb er of hospitalizations and psychiatric background. Adjustment to illne ss accounted for the psychologic status of the patients.