Here are five takeaways from the study.
1. Researchers identified consistent relationships between depression/anxiety and subjectively measured components of the 28-Joint Disease Activity Score.
2. Patients who presented symptoms of depression/anxiety had decreased odds of attaining rheumatoid arthritis remission at two years.
3. Researchers found baseline depression/anxiety was linked with a 50 percent reduced prednisone treatment response in this patient population.
4. Lead researcher, Faith Matcham, stated the findings do not indicate there is a casual relationship between mental health and RA outcomes, but a bidirectional relationship. She writes, “Our results suggest that symptoms of depression/anxiety may reduce the body’s ability to respond to glucocorticoid treatment.”
5. The data suggests patients may have a better treatment response if they are provided with enhanced management of mental disorders. Researchers call for more studies to determine if this hypothesis is correct.
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