Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy is associated with less frequent mood and anxiety disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

AIMS: The purpose of the present study was to examine the current prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders, and factors related to mood and anxiety disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHOD: The study sample included 83 consecutive patients with RA who were admitted to a rheumatology outpatient clinic. Diagnoses of psychiatric disorders were determined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). To assess physical disability and disease activity, the Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Disease Activity Score, respectively, were used.

RESULTS: The prevalence of any mood or any anxiety disorder was 43.4%. The two most common psychiatric diagnoses were major depression (21.7%) and generalized anxiety disorder (16.9%). Mood and anxiety disorders were unrelated to sociodemographic features, disease-related factors, and medications for RA except anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). These disorders, however, were identified less frequently in patients with RA receiving anti-TNF-alpha drugs compared to patients who did not receive such medications.

CONCLUSION: Patients with RA frequently have mood and anxiety disorders, and anti-TNF-alpha drugs may be useful for the mental status of these patients.