Towards a better understanding of the role of psychological variables in arthritis outcome research

Abstract

In the previous issue of Arthritis Research and Therapy, Brionez and colleagues show that helplessness, depression, and passive coping account for significant variability in self-reported functional limitations in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, beyond the effect of age, inflammation and radiographic damage. Since the perspective of the patients in the experience of health is increasingly important, insight into the type of psychological variables, the pathways by which they influence health and the approaches for how to deal with these variables are challenging.

Figure 1

Current framework of functioning and health. The World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and the position of the variables included in the study by Brionez and colleagues [1]. AS, ankylosing spondylitis; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; BASRI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiographic Index; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PHQ, Patient Health Questionnaire to assess depression.