RESEARCH - Frequency of depression and anxiety in patients attending a rheumatology clinic

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J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2008 Sep;18(9):569-73.

Frequency of depression and anxiety in patients attending a rheumatology clinic.

Azad N, Gondal M, Abbas N.

Department of Psychiatry, Foundation University Medical College, Rawalpindi.

OBJECTIVE: This study was done to find out the frequency of anxiety

and depression among patients with common rheumatic disorders and

determine the possible relationship of different demographic and

clinical variables with anxiety and depression.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, analytical study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The study was carried out at Fauji

Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, during April to August 2006.

METHODOLOGY: Patients attending the rheumatology outpatient

department, with more than 2 years duration of rheumatic disorder were

selected. A proforma regarding the demographic details was filled for

all the patients. A physician made the assessment regarding the

rheumatological disorder. Urdu version of Hospital Anxiety and

Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess anxiety and depression.

Clinical assessment was done by two psychiatrists according to

International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10). Data was

analyzed on SPSS10 and p-value was calculated using Chi-square test as

test of significance.

RESULTS: There were 108 patients mostly females (90%), mean age 44.7 +

11 years, majority (72%) were married and 51% were uneducated. Almost

80% of the patients had rheumatoid arthritis. Two-third of the

patients had persistent symptoms. According to the HADS, scoring 56%

of the patients had more than the cut off score for depression and

65.7% patients had scores falling in the category of cases. Regarding

the clinical diagnosis, 42% of the patients were found to be

depressed. Considering the factors which might be associated with

depression or anxiety; only gender was found to be significantly

associated with depression (p=0.03).

CONCLUSION: Depression and anxiety is high in patients being treated

for chronic rheumatological disorders. A close liaison between

rheumatologist and mental health professionals could prove beneficial

for these patients.

PMID: 18803896

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18803896

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