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Depression, activity limitations and participation restrictions in rheumatic diseases

Müller, Christoph (2009) Depression, activity limitations and participation restrictions in rheumatic diseases.

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Abstract:Objective. To find out the prevalence of depression in rheumatic diseases and to explore the relationship of depression with activities and participation (physical and social functioning). Methods. This study was accomplished in the rheumatology clinic of a medical hospital in Enschede, The Netherlands. Eighty patients participated. They were asked to answer the Geriatric Depression Scale- Short form (GDS-15), the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) for the measurement of limitations of activities; selected items of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy (IPA), to measure participation; selected items of the Sociale Steun lijst-interacties [Social Support List- interactions] (SSL-I), an antidepressant item and questions about background information. Results: 1. About 18.4% of the patients showed indications of depression. 2. No significant gender difference in the prevalence of depression was found. 3a. Patients with a rheumatic disease and a depression had significantly more activity limitations and participation restrictions, than patients with a rheumatic disease and without depression. 3b. The GDS-15 score correlated at .53 with the HAQ-DI and at .51 with the IPA score. 4a. Patients with high instrumental support appeared to be significantly more depressive than patients with low instrumental support. 4b. Instrumental support does not moderate the relations of depression with activity limitations and with participation restrictions. Discussion. No earlier research on depression in rheumatic diseases in general was published in which was also asked for the use of antidepressants. By reason of this study it is assumed that the prevalence of depression in rheumatic diseases was underestimated by earlier studies. No clear cut-off scores exist for the GDS-15 what makes it difficult to quote the prevalence of depression in rheumatic diseases precisely. The results 3a and 3b can be interpreted in the way that impairments possibly cause depression, that depression could alter the effects of the treatment of the rheumatic disease, and that both physical and social impairments could be important factors to explain negative associations of depression in rheumatic diseases. Since more patients taking antidepressants were found than patients with a GDS-15 score ≥ 8, it would be interesting for further research to analyze whether there are relations of antidepressants with activity and participation.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/59360
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