Arthritic pain and psychological distress in patients with chronic polyarthritis
Mattussek, S.; Raspe, H.H.
Zeitschrift für Rheumatologie 48(5): 229-235
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-1855 PMID: 2609794 Document Number: 337286
Pain intensity and sensory dimensions of pain experience were studied in four samples totalling 346 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 35%-61% of these patients suffer from severe pain. Arthritic pain is not automatically associated with emotional disorder. However, we met significant correlations of pain intensity with depression, trait anxiety, and state anxiety. Three hypotheses about the relation between pain and emotional state are discussed. Within one third of the patients we observed a paradoxical pain-mood pattern. Within the greater part of the patients severe pain is accompanied by considerable emotional suffering. The question of whether pain intensity is the cause of or the result from depression cannot be answered. However, predicting pain intensity from depression scores is much easier than predicting depression from pain intensity.