Think positive to obtain best results from arthritis treatment

Positive expectations about the success of rheumatoid arthritis treatment seems to influence its eventual outcome, highlights interesting research in a leading journal.

Around 100 people with rheumatoid arthritis whose biologic treatment was being changed due to non-response or negative side effects were included in the study. Their treatment beliefs, expectations and health-related quality of life were measured. After the treatment of the volunteers was changed, its success was compared with their beliefs and expectations.

In general, people who expected improvement after switching drugs were more likely to enjoy reduced disease activity. And those who feared adverse effects were more likely to experience them.

The team explains that “patients’ expectations towards newly induced DMARD therapies influence clinical response and may serve as possible explanatory factors for treatment response”.

Click here to read the original research.

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