Implications of depression in rheumatoid arthritis: do subtypes really matter?
OBJECTIVE
To examine depressive disorders and health status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), controlling for potential confounds.


METHODS
Subjects (n = 426) completed measures of depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [CES-D]) and health status (Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 [AIMS2]), via cross-sectional survey. Subjects (n = 299) with few depressive symptoms (CES-D < or = 10) were not evaluated further. Subjects with CES-D > or = 11 were interviewed using the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders to diagnose major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 46), dysthymic disorder (DD; n = 21), or minor depressive disorder (MND; n = 18).


RESULTS
Regression analyses examined differences between the depressive disorders on AIMS2 subscales. Health status scores were similar between the depressive disorder subcategories; significant differences were found between MDD and MND on AIMS2 Physical scores and MDD and DD on AIMS2 Symptom scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Regarding health status, presence of depression itself seems to overshadow differences between depression subtypes; antidepressant treatments/referrals for persons with concomitant RA and any depressive disorder subtype appear warranted.
Smarr
K L
KL
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, USA.
Parker
J C
JC
Kosciulek
J F
JF
Buchholz
J L
JL
Multon
K D
KD
Hewett
J E
JE
Komatireddy
G R
GR
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D015982:Bias; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis