Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon AD, Şanlıurfa-Türkiye

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease that results in a major disability. Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition characterized by degeneration especially in weight loading joints. The purpose of the study was to determine the depressive symptoms and the level of disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Method: Participants were 75 patients with RA (n=32) and OA (n=43). The Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was used to evaluate the activities of daily living and disability level, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was used to evaluate depression levels of the patients. The quality of life was evaluated with Short Form-36 (SF-36). The severity of pain was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: HAM-D scores of the patients with RA were significantly higher than those with OA. All subscale scores of SF-36 except physical role limitations were significantly lower in RA group than OA group. Mean VAS score was higher in RA patients than in OA patients. All subscale scores of HAQ were significantly higher in patients with RA than patients with OA. Dressing, eating and walking subscales of HAQ were positively correlated with HAM-D scores in patients with RA. Conclusion: In conclusion, depressive symptoms were more common in patients with RA than those with OA. Further, depression levels were related with disability levels in patients with RA. Psychological evaluation of the patients with RA may provide better compliance to treatment and better prognosis in patients with RA.