Abstract

REDONDO DELGADO, Marta M. et al. Pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: psychological variables and interventions. Clínica y Salud [online]. 2008, vol.19, n.3, pp.359-378. ISSN 2174-0550.

Pain is a key symptom in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), usually determining the patient’s adjustment to illness and his/her overall quality of life. Based on recent research, this article provides a review and discussion of RA pain from a psychological approach. Negative emotions and their relations to pain are assessed, and the most effective psychological techniques for pain management are described. It is concluded that pain is a key symptom in RA patients, being frequently predicted by negative emotions -which are more prevalent in RA patients than in the general population. Moreover, studies suggest that the cognitive-behavioural approach is effective in RA patients since it improves not only the pain but also the psychological fit to the disease, being an additional benefit for RA patients when this approach adds to the standard medical care. With a view to the future, this paper suggests the need of further studies with Spanish samples on negative emotions and coping skills patterns related to pain.

Keywords : Pain; Rheumatoid Arthritis; Psychological variables; Interventions.

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