Focus on mental health when reducing disease activity in psoriatic arthritis

Anxiety and depression reduce the likelihood of achieving sustained minimal disease activity in psoriatic arthritis, says a study in Arthritis Care & Research, highlighting the importance of looking after mental health in people affected by the inflammatory disease.

A total of 743 people took part in the nine-year study, during which time 337 (almost half) did not achieve sustained minimal disease activity.

Depression or anxiety was associated with a decreased likelihood of achieving sustained minimal disease activity.

“Comprehensive management of psoriatic arthritis should therefore include measures for addressing anxiety and depression so that more patients achieve a state of minimal disease activity,” says Antonio Wong who is involved in the work.

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