Depression, anxiety and stress in relation to disease activity and treatment used in patients with spondyloarthropathies – results of a preliminary study

Introduction: Inflammation and physical disability in spondyloarthritis (SpA) [ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and SAPHO syndrome (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis)] patients affect the incidence of stress, anxiety and depression.Material and methods: A total of 109 SpA patients and 45 controls were studied.We collected age, sex, disease activity, extra-articular symptoms, and treatment.All subjects were assessed for depression, anxiety and stress with the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale version 42 (DASS-42) and depression with the Beck Depression Scale.Results: The mean age was 52.70 years; mean disese duration -11.02 years; 63.79% -PsA patients; 52.20% -females.Antidepressants were used by 6.35% patients.DASS-42 scale showed depression in 20.29% patients (most often mild -57.14%); anxiety -in 18.84% (most often moderate -53.85%), and stress -in 17.39% (most often mild -41.67%).Beck scale showed depression in 31.88% patients (most often mild -77.27%).SpA patients had a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress than controls (9.09%).No differences in age, VAS, ESR and CRP levels between SpA patients with depression, anxiety and stress and SpA patients without these symptoms were fund (all p > 0.05).Biological treatment used in 40% of patients improved mental status in 94.59% of those.Depression, anxiety and stress were 1.5 times more common in PsA (mainly female, 71.42%) than in AS patients.Conclusions: In SpA patients, the disease and the treatment used affected the incidence of depression, anxiety and stress, which were more common in PsA patients.Biologic treatment significantly improved the mental status of SpA patients.