Matcham

 According to one large study by Matcham et al into the prevalence of depression among rheumatoid arthritis patients, about a third of patients are believed to suffer from depression. The reasons for this correlation are many and varied, and not just for arthritis patients, but for chronic pain patients more generally.

Pain changes life in many ways and creates new stressors that are difficult to deal with. For instance, pain conditions may interfere with your ability to work, to perform the activities you love and even to do basic daily tasks. The need to depend on others more heavily may lead to feelings of incompetence and worthlessness. What is more, pain is anxiety-inducing; fears concerning whether you'll ever recover may cause significant worry and depression. Finally, there is a biochemical connection between physical pain and depression. Both are processed in the same areas of the brain, and an increase in activation from one stimulus can cause an increase in the sensation of the other.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease that can lead to disability and joint disfigurement if the progression of the disease is not interrupted. Currently, medications are relied on to curb progression, but they aren't effective for everyone and come with serious risks. It's important for patients to know about all treatment options that have the potential to help them live with less pain and a higher quality of life. According to recent research, cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful to patients with this disease.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has a strong track record of effectiveness for chronic pain patients more generally. In sessions with a therapist, patients learn how to develop better coping skills. They analyze their thoughts, feelings and beliefs about pain, seeking to root out counterproductive cognitions and replace them with more accurate, constructive and productive ones. This form of therapy has been shown to help not only with emotional and psychological coping but with pain intensity as well; this may be due to the impact of positive cognitions on activity levels as well as the biochemical connection described above. The study into rheumatoid arthritis patients found that those who received CBT experienced decreases in physical pain and psychological symptoms that lasted through to the 12-month follow-up period.

See more on this study at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24865870.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients should talk with their doctors about the potential usefulness of CBT in their treatment plans. Insurance may cover the cost of appointments, particularly if a referral from your doctor is obtained. Consider CBT another weapon in your arsenal against the toll rheumatoid arthritis can take.