The development of depressive symptoms among women with rheumatoid arthritis. The role of function.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of function and functional changes in the development of depressive symptoms among women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Data from a longitudinal panel study of persons with RA were used. Functional changes were assessed from 1989 to 1991, and depressive symptoms during 1992.


RESULTS
Loss of valued activities was a significant risk factor for the developing depressive symptoms (i.e., score of > or = 7 on the Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale), but overall functional decline was not.


CONCLUSIONS
The aspect of functional decline that leads to development of depressive symptoms is the loss of valued activities, not simply the functional impairment.
Katz
P P
PP
Arthritis Research Group, University of California, San Francisco 94109.
Yelin
E H
EH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors