title: Depression, anxiety, and quality of life in a large cohort of patients with rheumatic diseases: common, yet undertreated.
abstract: A growing amount of literature has explored mainly the role of depression (and/or anxiety) in patients with rheumatic disorders. We aimed at determining the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and their association with quality of life among patients attending a rheumatology clinic, focusing on data regarding concomitant psychiatric treatment. Depression, anxiety, and quality of life were assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire, respectively. Overall, 514 rheumatologic patients were studied. Depression and anxiety were documented in 21.8 and 30.8 % of the population, respectively, and correlated significantly with quality of life. Only 13.4 % of patients with depressive symptoms and 12.1 % of patients with anxiety symptoms were receiving antidepressant or antianxiety medication. Given the wide therapeutic armamentarium available nowadays for the management of depression and anxiety, an increased awareness among physicians dealing with rheumatologic patients is warranted in order to integrate detection and effective treatment of anxiety and depression into the routine clinical practice. Special attention should be paid to female patients, patients with longer disease duration, and/or those with established disability.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anyfanti
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ring Road Nea Eukarpia, 56403, Thessaloniki, Greece. elenicelli@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gavriilaki
authors.affiliation: 2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pyrpasopoulou
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ring Road Nea Eukarpia, 56403, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ring Road Nea Eukarpia, 56403, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Areti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
authors.affiliation: 2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatzimichailidou
authors.affiliation: 2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gkaliagkousi
authors.affiliation: 2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aslanidis
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ring Road Nea Eukarpia, 56403, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Douma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Quality of life; Rheumatic diseases