Can rheumatoid arthritis affect your mood?

Pain from RA can make depression worse, which in turn makes it harder to manage RA symptoms. That is in part because pain causes stress, and stress causes a release of chemicals that change mood. When mood changes, there is a domino effect. It’s harder to sleep and stress levels may rise.

How does rheumatoid arthritis affect mental health?

A study published in July 2018 in Arthritis Care & Research found that people who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in their lifetimes than those who have not been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease.

Can RA affect brain function?

People with RA are more likely to have narrowed or blocked arteries in the brain – the result of systemic inflammation. This can cause problems with memory, thinking and reasoning.

How does arthritis affect you emotionally?

Research indicates there is a link between anxiety, depression and arthritis. As is the case with other chronic illnesses, research shows that people with arthritis are more likely to also have anxiety and/or depression. Up to a third of people with arthritis may be clinically depressed.

Does methotrexate make you depressed?

Anxiety and Depression are Associated with Non-Adherence to Methotrexate in the First 6 Months of Treatment in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Population.

Does rheumatoid arthritis cause weakened immune system?

So, why does having RA create more chance of contracting an infectious illness? The short answer is because sometimes RA itself, as well as the medicines you take, can lower your body’s immune response to infection. This means your body is not as responsive to germs that cause colds, the flu and, yes, COVID-19.

Can rheumatoid arthritis cause depression?

Rheumatoid arthritis patients are more prone to depression as well as anxiety than those without the disease. Both arthritis and depression are dependent on each other. Arthritis can cause depression and chronic depression may further lead to worsening of the symptoms of the disease.

What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in the hands?

The sections below detail common symptoms that may be seen in your hands or fingers if you have RA. One of the hallmark signs of RA is pain and soreness in the hands and fingers. People with RA in their hands typically experience both soreness in the joints themselves and pain with different hand movements. 1 

How common are anxiety and depression in adults with arthritis?

Depression symptoms were more than twice as common among adults with arthritis as those without arthritis (12.1\% vs. 4.7\%). Not only are symptoms of anxiety and depression common among US adults with arthritis, these symptoms have also been associated with reduced response to arthritis treatment and poorer quality of life.

Are anxiety and arthritis connected?

These symptoms are more common in adults with arthritis who are women, younger, identify as LGBT+, have chronic pain or other co-occurring chronic conditions, or are disabled, unemployed, or otherwise unable to work. Because anxiety is often perceived as normal, people don’t always seek mental health services for it.