RESEARCH - RA doctor visits lack depression assessment

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Doctor Visits Lack Depression Assessment

MedicalNewsToday

Main Category: Arthritis

Also Included In: Depression; Primary Care / General Practice

Article Date: 04 Feb 2008 - 2:00 PDT

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common chronic

inflammatory arthritis, are twice as likely as other individuals to

experience depression. Although depression in primary care has been

well studied, no studies have examined whether rheumatologists and RA

patients discuss depression during medical visits. A new study

published in the February issue of Arthritis Care & Research found

that patients whose activities were more restricted due to their

arthritis were more than twice as likely to have moderately severe to

severe symptoms of depression. It also found that few depressed

patients discussed their condition with their rheumatologists and the

subject was always brought up by the patients as opposed to the

physicians.

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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96016.php

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