Relationship between Pain-Related Beliefs and Pain Anxiety with Depression in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chronic pain has many emotional and psychological pressures and is a complex psychological experience. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship of pain-related beliefs and pain anxiety with depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

It was a descriptive-correlational study thus, among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Esfahan who has been visited in rheumatology clinics in spring 2018, 240 patients were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criterias. Participants in the study completed depression inventory, pain beliefs and perceptions inventory and pain-related anxiety questionnaire. Also, the data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis.

Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between pain belief and pain anxiety with depression. Also, based on regression analysis, beliefs associated with pain and anxiety would predict depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive, chronic disease that also affects the psychological functions of patients. Therefore, special attention is paid to the psychological well-being of patients in the treatment of this disease.