Symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a pilot study in patients with an active approach to physical activity treatment
Abstract
Introduction: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is an inflam- matory disease of the spine and joints. In addition to numerous musculoskeletal manifestations, co-morbidities affecting the course of the disease and treatment occur in patients.
Symptoms of depression and anxiety occur more frequently in axSpA patients than in the general population and are associated with disease activity. The aim of this study was to assess: 1. the degree of psychological distress in patients with axSpA compared to patients without inflammatory spine involvement, 2. relation of depression and anxiety symptoms to the clinical parameters of axSpA, and 3. the relationship of working abilities and evaluation of depression and anxiety in axSpA.
Methods: A total of 34 patients with axSpA and 26 patients with non-specific back pain were evaluated. All respondents completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaires.
All axSpA patients were evaluated for disease activity and functional ability. Results: Mean values reflecting depression and anxiety in the BDI-II and BAI questionnaires did not significantly differ between the axSpA group and patients with non-inflammatory back pain.
In patients with axSpA, there is a significant positive relationship between BDI-II and disease activity and the rate of functional impairment, both p < 0.05. Higher anxiety is signifi- cantly associated with shorter disease duration and higher disease activity and poorer functional capabilities (all p < 0.05).
There is a negative relationship between quality of life and BDI-II (R = -0.486) and BAI (R = -0.399) both in axSpA and in individuals with non-inflammatory back pain, both p < 0.01. According to regression analysis, women tend to have a more unfavorable BDI-II result than men.
Conclusions: Although the rates of anxiety and depression do not differ between axSpA patients and respondents with non-inflammatory back pain, disease activity, and impaired functional abilities significantly reduce the psychological well-being of axSpA patients.