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. 2023;61(5):368-374.
doi: 10.5114/reum/168396. Epub 2023 Sep 27.

Depression, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Ali Dehghan  1 , Hamidreza Soltani  2 , Seyedeh Tahereh Faezi  1 , Azarakhsh Baghdadi  1 , Hossein Soleymani Salehabadi  2 , Hamidreza Bashiri  2 , Roya Hemayati  3 , Mehrdad Mansouri  4 , Mohammad Motaghi  1 , Mohammad Nejadhosseinian  5
Affiliations

Depression, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Ali Dehghan et al. Reumatologia. 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disorder that can affect multiple organs; psychiatric manifestations including depression and anxiety are commonly seen in SLE. The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, and assess the quality of life (QOL) in patients with SLE and also evaluate associated risk factors.

Material and methods: In this cross-sectional study, adult patients with SLE were identified through our institution's SLE data registry. Participants were evaluated with three questionnaires: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42), General Health Ouestionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and World Health Organization quality of life instrument short form (WHO-QOL BREF).

Results: A total of 222 patients were included in the study, 203 (91%) of whom were female and 19 were male (9%). Participants had a mean age of 35.6 ±9.5 years. According to DASS-42 questionnaire, 22.1%, 28.7% and 20.3% of patients had varying degrees of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Based on GHQ-28 questionnaire, 137 (62%) of patients reported some degree of distress. Quality of life score was 12.8, 13, 14.3, and 13.9 in physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health, respectively.

Conclusions: We found that depression, anxiety, and stress are common in patients with SLE, and quality of life is significantly affected. A high percentage of patients with SLE deal with some degree of distress. Routine evaluation of the quality of life and psychological disturbances is recommended in patients with SLE. Non-pharmacological interventions as well as specialist referral should be considered in patients with anxiety, depression, or stress.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; quality of life; stress; systemic lupus erythematosus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Depression, anxiety and stress in SLE patients (numbers represent percentage of affected patients).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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