DEPRESSION ON PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

There is an increasing attention for positive adaptation to chronic diseases, inspired by the upcoming field of positive psychology. The relationships between self-efficacy and positive adaptation in patients with polyarthritis has not been investigated. Objectives: To study the relationships of pain, fatigue, functional limitations and self-efficacy with indicators of positive adaptation to polyarthritis, namely purpose in life, positive affect and social and work participation. Methods: 331 patients (61 % women, mean age=61 years, mean disease duration=14 years) participated in a questionnaire study. Positive adaptation was measured with PIL (purpose in life), PANAS (positive affect) and IPA (social and work adaptation). Self-efficacy to cope with pain and self-efficacy to cope with other symptoms of arthritis were measured with ASES. Pain was assessed with a VAS, fatigue with SF36 Vitality scale and functional limitations with HAQ-DI. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were applied to analyse the relationships of physical health (pain, fatigue, functional limitations) an