United States: Scientific evidence now shows that people who have inflammatory arthritis develop mood disorders including depression and anxiety with greater frequency. Healthcare providers need to improve their attention toward meeting their mental health needs.
Study Findings
The study appearing in Arthritis Research & Therapy demonstrated arthritis patients obtain similar mental health interventions compared to those without arthritis even though they demonstrate higher vulnerability to psychological issues, as reported by HealthDay.
Professor Mary De Vera from the University of British Columbia declared that this unexpected result is logical because mental health issues frequently remain untreated. The research team anticipated arthritis patients to need more mental health care because they routinely visit healthcare providers thereby creating more chances for intervention.
As the Tory Govt claims benefit claimants are faking mental health issues,the truth is 40% of those denied benefits are cancer victims,arthritis sufferers and amputees. #DisabilityRights https://t.co/K4hxGb5UKn
— Crewe POV (@CrewePov) May 12, 2024
Key Findings on Depression and Anxiety Treatment
The study analyzed mental health care provided to 7,000 arthritis patients with depression and 3,700 with anxiety, comparing them to individuals without arthritis. Findings included:
- 51% of arthritis patients with depression received medication, compared to 48% of non-arthritis patients.
- Anxiety treatment rates were identical between groups, with only 20% receiving prescribed care.
- Arthritis patients with anxiety had higher hospital admission rates related to mood disorders.
The Overlooked Impact of Inflammation on Mental Health
Arthritis creates known physical damages which receive attention yet its mental health impact remains commonly overlooked. Studies indicate that arthritis-related inflammation creates direct effects on brain tissues which lead to psychiatric illness development.
De Vera stressed that the care gap needs immediate attention. The relationship between arthritis symptoms and mental health problems alongside inflammatory processes poses an intricate problem requiring increased medical research attention, as reported by HealthDay.
A Call for Comprehensive Care
According to the study we need a better integrated healthcare system for arthritis patients to include both mental health and physical health support. The current gap needs immediate solutions to boost clinical success in patient health.