Effects of stress management on clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of stress-management training on clinical outcomes in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Patients with RA (n = 141) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a stress management group, an attention control group, or a standard care control group. The stress management and the attention control groups received a 10-week intervention followed by an additional 15-month maintenance phase.


RESULTS
The stress management group showed statistically significant improvements on measures of helplessness, self-efficacy, coping, pain, and health status. Selected beneficial effects were still detectable at the 15-month followup evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicated that stress management interventions are capable of producing important clinical benefits for persons with RA.
Parker
J C
JC
Psychology Service, Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
Smarr
K L
KL
Buckelew
S P
SP
Stucky-Ropp
R C
RC
Hewett
J E
JE
Johnson
J C
JC
Wright
G E
GE
Irvin
W S
WS
Walker
S E
SE
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011379:Prognosis; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*