Psychological predictors of disease course in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

A three year prospective study of 30 patients with established rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated that symptoms of depression and anxiety predicted a good outcome whilst externalised hostility predicted a poorer outcome. A multiple regression analysis further showed that patients who denied the emotional significance of their illness faired worse. Psychological variables accounted for 32% of the variance of outcome. © 1987.