Health News: A new study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, showed that depending on rheumatoid arthritis therapies may not alone meaningfully improve patients’ mental health.
Previously drugs used for arthritis treatment was known to impact mental health by improving pain and stiffness and by targeting inflammatory processes common to arthritis and depression.
The new study is a review of findings from over 70 clinical trials to examine the link between different rheumatoid arthritis treatments and mental health outcomes. According to the lead author of the study Dr. Faith Matcham, otherwise, effective pharmacotherapy alone is not enough to provide mental health benefits for the majority of arthritis patients.
If patients receive routine arthritis care along with integrated psychological support, they may achieve optimal mental health outcomes.
The results of the study imply the need for dedicated mental health care services for rheumatoid arthritis patients with depression and other mental conditions.
To Know More, You May Refer To:
Faith Matcham, James Galloway, Matthew Hotopf, Emmert Roberts, Ian C Scott, Sophia Steer, Sam Norton. The impact of targeted Rheumatoid Arthritis pharmacological treatment on mental health: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2018; DOI: 10.1002/art.40565
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