Anarthritis flare, unexpected changes at home or work, even the start of a new year can create stress and anxiety. These emotions lead to depression in some people –including many who have arthritis. A 2012 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one-third of people with arthritis also havedepression or anxiety.
Subtle Symptoms
While some symptoms are well known – like persistent sadness andchanges in sleep, activity and eating patterns – a variety of more subtle symptoms may be harder to recognize. For example, people with arthritis and related conditions may experience increased pain (beyond their joints), includingback pain, headaches and stomach pains.
John M. Davis III, MD, a rheumatologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, believes depression is also responsible for an inadequate response to disease-modifying therapies in some people with inflammatory arthritis. “I think depression is a key driver of persistent pain,” he says.
Other signs of depression include self-medicating with alcohol or prescription pain medications or changes in mood – such as withdrawal or being quick to anger. Depression can also lead to difficulty concentrating, which may first be noticeable at work (or school) as deadlines are missed.
What to Look For
抑郁症有时无法被识别和治疗，因为它可能被误认为是衰老的其他症状，如记忆困难、性格变化和不想离开家。认识到这些不太常见的症状对关节炎患者尤其重要，因为抑郁通常会导致更多的疼痛和功能下降。
“I do believe that early treatment is important to optimize control of depression and reduce its impact on pain, ability to participate in activities, sleep disturbances and difficulty with social and work activities,” Dr. Davis says.
Author: Jennifer Davis
Related Resources:
- The Arthritis-Depression Connection
- 11 Drug-Free Ways to Feel Better
- Arthritis Drugs Help Physical Symptoms More Than Disease-Related Depression
- How Your Mood Can Affect Bone Health