Arthritis survey reveals high levels of psychological distress

NEARLY HALF of all people with rheumatoid arthritis can no longer participate in social activities they used to enjoy, according to new research.

The first comprehensive survey of patients with arthritis in Ireland has given an indication of the extent to which the disease physically and psychologically affects those who suffer from it.

As a result of the findings, Arthritis Ireland has launched a free support booklet entitled Coping With Emotions which offers advice on dealing with the emotions that accompany a diagnosis of arthritis.

Arthritis Ireland chief executive John Church said the results were “startling” and showed the level of psychological stress caused by arthritis.

“Anecdotally we know from our branches, especially in the west of Ireland and Donegal, that there is a great deal of depression and social isolation which comes with having arthritis which is compounded by the lack of rheumatology services. One of the reasons for doing this survey is to show to the public an awareness of the problems of rheumatoid arthritis.

“The survey shows how the physical effects of the disease such as pain, reduced mobility and depression can manifest in social isolation, which affects people with arthritis and their relationships with their spouse or partner, children, friends and work colleagues.”

It also confounds the belief that arthritis is a disease overwhelmingly suffered by older people. Forty per cent of people with arthritis are under 50 and four in five are under the retirement age of 65.

The survey was carried out by Arthritis Ireland and sponsored by Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) and involved extensive interviews with 128 arthritis sufferers in seven rheumatology clinics throughout the country last year.

There are an estimated 40,000 people in Ireland with arthritis, a disease which can cause chronic pain in the joints and immobility.

A total of 48 per cent of sufferers said arthritis stopped them doing things they used to do and a similar number (44.3 per cent) said they were in pain every day.

Of those surveyed, two in five (40 per cent) said it was difficult for them to do basic household chores such as “opening a tetra pack carton” or “being able to put a nappy on my child”.

The same number said it affected their sex lives and half, who were divorced or separated, said their condition had an effect on their relationship.

The mental toll on arthritis sufferers was considerable, with two in five admitting that it was hard to keep going and the condition was a constant worry. Nearly a third admitted they were sad and depressed by it.

St Vincent’s University Hospital clinical nurse specialist Alexia Grier, who was responsible for drawing up the list of questions for the survey, said it confirmed what many medical professionals had felt about the true effect of arthritis on people and, in particular, on their relationships.

“Often our confidence, happiness and feelings of self-worth are wrapped up in the relationships we share and the memories we create and, for those people living with arthritis, it is no different,” she said.