Rheumatoid Arthritis

In this survey, the intervention of cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) on psychological and immune indices and pain in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis is studied.  <span class="s26"><span class="bumpedFont15">Method <span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont15">: Statistical population of the study consisted of patients who referred to the rheumatology clinics in the northern parts of Tehran.  44 participants aged 25–60 using purposive sampling in accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria selected and in two groups of 22 individuals were examined. Psychological, immune and pain evaluation tests of depression, anxiety and stress scale, blood sample, and McGill pain inventory were conducted in two stages of pretest and posttest using multiple covariance analysis.  <span class="s26"><span class="bumpedFont15">Results <span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont15">: The results showed a significant effect of the stress management intervention on depression  <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">(F <span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont20">1 <span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont20">,37 <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">= <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">4/318, P= 0/046, η <span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont20">2  <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">=0/104) <span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont15"> among patients with RA. The use of this intervention was effective in reducing the immune parameter (CRP)  <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">(F <span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont20">1 <span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont20">,38 <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">= 17/593, P= 0/001, η <span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont20">2  <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">=0/316) <span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont15"> and their pain  <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">(F <span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont20">1,39 <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">= 4/885, P= 0/033, η <span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont20">2  <span class="s4"><span class="bumpedFont20">=0/111) <span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont15">.  <span class="s26"><span class="bumpedFont15">Conclusion <span class="s17"><span class="bumpedFont15">: According to the results, employing this method for RA patients is very helpful and it can be suggested for improving their psychological and physical conditions.

Objective: Musculoskeletal diseases are among the most common and costly illnesses across all age groups and various communities, leading to disability, incapacity, early retirement, and job loss. The present study aimed to develop a structural model of quality of life based on resilience with the mediation of perceived stress in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The research method was descriptive-survey with a structural equation modeling design. The statistical population included women with rheumatoid arthritis in the city of Isfahan. The women with rheumatoid arthritis referred to medical centers in Isfahan had at least one year of disease history. Data were collected using the Varni-Kazisnki and Keller Quality of Life Questionnaire (1996), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (1993), Cohen, Kamarck, and Mermelstein’s Perceived Stress Questionnaire (1983), and the Gratz and Roemer Emotion Regulation Difficulty Scale (2004). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and Amos26 software. Findings: The results showed that the direct effect of resilience on the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significant (β = 0.25; P < 0.01). The indirect effect of resilience through the mediation of perceived stress on the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significant (β = 0.16; P < 0.01). Additionally, the total effect of resilience through the mediation of perceived stress on quality of life was significant (β = 0.41; P < 0.01). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the structural model of quality of life based on resilience with the mediation of perceived stress was well-fitted, and perceived stress played a mediating role in the relationship between quality of life and resilience in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training on pain beliefs and dimensions of anger in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Method : The research design was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test and a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of women with rheumatoid arthritis referred to medical centers in Tabriz City in 2022. The sample included 25 women with rheumatoid arthritis selected through convenience sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, who were then randomly assigned to two groups. The research instruments used were Williams and Thorne's Belief in Pain Questionnaire and Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Questionnaire, which were provided to both groups to collect the required data. The control group remained on the waiting list, while the experimental group underwent MBSR training over eight weekly sessions (90 minutes per week) following Jon Kabat-Zinn's approach. The research data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results : The results indicated significant differences between the MBSR and control groups in pain beliefs and anger. Specifically, MBSR treatment led to a reduction in pain-related beliefs and anger in the experimental group ( P <0.001). Eta-squared values showed that 76.3%, 71.8%, 74.4%, and 69.6% of the variance in pain beliefs and anger could be attributed to the effects of MBSR, respectively. Conclusion : Based on the findings, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training can be considered as a complementary and protective treatment technique for patients with chronic and painful conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.