Battling Arthritis, Anxiety and Depression

People diagnosed with arthritis may need to be screened for anxiety and depression.

Federal researchers have found that one-third of adults in the United States with arthritis, ages 45 and older, report having anxiety or depression, according to a news release from publisher Wiley-Blackwell.

In fact, anxiety is nearly twice as common as depression among people with arthritis, according to the study published in Arthritis Care & Research, a peer-reviewed journal published on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

Roughly 27 million people nationwide have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, according to data from the American College of Rheumatology. All forms of arthritis affect 50 million Americans. It is the leading cause of disability nationwide.

While depression is common among patients with chronic illnesses, “experts suggest that anxiety is often under-recognized and under-treated, and until recently was overlooked as a potential risk factor for depression,” the news release states.

After studying medical records of nearly 1,800 patients with arthritis, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than one-third had at least one of two mental health issues: anxiety and depression. To the surprise of researchers, anxiety was much more common than depression.

“…We suggest that all people with arthritis be screened for anxiety and depression,” said Dr. Louise Murphy, lead author of the study. “With so many arthritis patients not seeking mental health treatment, health care providers are missing an intervention opportunity that could improve the quality of life for those with arthritis.”

Source: Arthritis Care and Research

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