Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on June 7, 2005
Rheumatology 2005 44(9):1166-1168; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keh699
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Coping and psychological adjustment in recent-onset inflammatory polyarthritis: the role of gender and age
School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Unit, 1 Norfolk Arthritis Register, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, UK School of Medicine Health Policy and Practice and 2 School of Medicine Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich and 3 Department of Surgical Oncology and Technology, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Correspondence to: J. Ramjeet, School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Unit, Yorkon Building, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK. E-mail: J.Ramjeet{at}uea.ac.uk
Objectives. To examine the role of gender, age and coping in psychological adjustment of patients with early inflammatory polyarthritis (IP).
Methods. One hundred and twelve patients with IP of up to 18 months' duration from the Norfolk Arthritis Register completed questionnaires measuring coping, anxiety, disability and pain.
Results. Thirty-six per cent of the patients were at risk of depressive symptoms. Women had significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety than men. Regression analyses showed that pain and (low) illness acceptance predicted levels of depression. Younger age, wishful thinking and covering up predicted anxiety levels.
Conclusions. The study found higher levels of depression and anxiety for women than men with early IP. Psychological distress was predicted by younger age, specific coping strategies and high levels of pain.
KEY WORDS: Rheumatoid arthritis, Gender, Coping, Psychological adjustment
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