title: Effects of stress management on clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Service, Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Smarr
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Buckelew
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Stucky-Ropp
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hewett
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Irvin
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: 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*