The Huffington Post (5/1, Pearson) reports, “One in three adults who have arthritis also have anxiety or depression, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” The study of some 1,700 adults, published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, found that more than one-third of the participants who had been diagnosed with arthritis or other rheumatic conditions “said they had at least one of two mental health conditions: anxiety and depression,” with anxiety found to be more common than depression. The article adds, “Prior research had established a link between chronic pain and depression, although groups like the National Institute of Mental Health caution that the exact, underlying links are not yet fully understood.”
“More than half of the patients who reported anxiety within the previous year were unemployed or unable to work, had problems bathing and dressing, and experienced significant difficulties in performing household activities and errands,” MedPage Today (5/1, Walsh) reports. “More than half also reported having severe fatigue within the past week and lacking confidence in the ability to engage in physical activity.” Also covering the story are WebMD (5/1, Mann) and HealthDay (5/1, Preidt).
Related Links:
— “Arthritis And Anxiety Closely Linked, Study Shows,”Catherine Pearson , Huffington Post, April 30, 2012.