RESEARCH - Spouse depression and disease course among persons with RA

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Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Jul 30;61(8):1011-1017.

Spouse depression and disease course among persons with rheumatoid arthritis.

Lam M, Lehman AJ, Puterman E, Delongis A.

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of spouse mood in the disability and

disease course of persons with rheumatoid arthritis (PWRA).

METHODS: A total of 133 married PWRA completed questionnaires,

including the Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index and the

Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, assessing PWRA arthritis

disease activity and disability, respectively, at 2 time points 1 year

apart. In addition, both PWRA and their spouses completed the Center

for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, a standardized community

measure of depression at both time points.

RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis revealed spouse depressive

symptoms at initial assessment to be predictive of followup PWRA

disability and disease activity, even after controlling for initial

levels of PWRA depression, disability, disease activity, age, number

of years married, education, disease duration, and employment.

Specifically, higher levels of spouse depression predicted worse

disease course over a 1-year period for PWRA, as indicated by higher

reports of subsequent PWRA disability and disease activity.

CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the key role played by the spouse

in PWRA disease course, and point to the importance of including the

spouse in clinical interventions. Implications for theory, research,

and treatment are discussed with a focus on examining pathways through

which spouse depressive symptoms may affect PWRA disease course and

disability.

PMID: 19644902

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19644902

Not an MD