Title: The Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psychiatric Disorder Connection | Everyday Health
Headings: The Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis, Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder Is Powerful
The Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis, Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder Is Powerful
Rates of Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder Are Higher in People with Rheumatoid Arthritis
3 Ways Rheumatoid Arthritis Contributes to Mental Health Conditions, and How to Deal With the Risks
1. Living With a Chronic Disease Like RA Causes Chronic Stress
2. Inflammation Is a Common Thread in RA and in Mood Disorders
3. RA Pain Leads to Depression; Depression May Worsen Pain Perception
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Recognize Early Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness When You Have RA
Practice Self-Care to Help Protect Your Mental Health When You Have RA
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Content: The Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psychiatric Disorder Connection | Everyday Health
Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis, Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder Is Powerful
People with RA are significantly more likely to have mental health issues compared to people without RA, study suggests. By Cathy Garrard Medically Reviewed by Alexa Meara, MD
Last Updated: September 17, 2018
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Medically Reviewed
Living with rheumatoid arthritis means an increased risk for mental health problems. Leigh Wells/Getty Images
Having an autoimmune disorder may take a toll on the brain as well as the body. A study published in July 2018 in Arthritis Care & Research found that people who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in their lifetimes than those who have not been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease. Rates of schizophrenia were similar among the two groups, according to the findings. Rates of Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder Are Higher in People with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Researchers in Manitoba, Canada, studied more than 60,000 people with RA and healthy individuals. The incidence of depression was 45 percent higher in the RA group, anxiety was 25 percent higher, and bipolar disorder was 20 percent more common. While incidence rates for psychiatric disorders declined over a person’s life regardless of their physical health, episodes of depression and anxiety were more frequent and lengthy in the RA group. “ We need to learn more about how mood disorders like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder are connected,” says study author Carol Hitchon, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.