Arthritis care and research : the official journal of the Arthritis Health Professions Association
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Stress management in rheumatoid arthritis: what is the underlying mechanism?
To test whether change in cognitive-behavioral variables (such as self-efficacy, coping strategies, and helplessness) is a mediator in the relation between cognitive behavior therapy and reduced pain and depression in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Decreases in pain and depression following stress management training are due to beneficial changes in the arenas of self-efficacy (the belief that one can perform a specific behavior or task in the future), coping strategies (an individual's confidence in his or her ability to manage pain), and helplessness (perceptions of control regarding arthritis). There is little evidence of additional direct effects of stress management training on pain and depression.
-
To determine whether individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) who are more physically active differ in various psychosocial characteristics (i.e., self-efficacy, health-related quality of life [HRQL]) from those who are less active, and whether those who function better on a daily basis also differ in these characteristics from their less able counterparts. ⋯ Support for the importance of perceived control and HRQL for engaging in higher levels of physical activity and daily functioning was demonstrated. Future research must continue to examine psychosocial factors that affect patients' functioning with FM in order to enhance their well-being.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A pilot study of body awareness programs in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome.
To compare in a pilot study the effect of two physical therapies, the Mensendieck system (MS) and body awareness therapy (BAT) according to Roxendal, in fibromyalgia patients and to investigate differences in effect between the two interventions. ⋯ In the present pilot study, MS was associated with more positive changes than BAT.
-
Comparative Study
Comparison of the responsiveness of symptomatic outcome measures in knee osteoarthritis.
A number of international scientific societies have recommended a core set of domains to be systematically assessed in clinical research studies on osteoarthritis (OA), i.e., pain, function, and patient's overall assessment. This open, longitudinal, observational study compares the responsiveness of different symptomatic variables evaluating these 3 domains in knee OA. ⋯ Most of the evaluated variables have a moderate responsiveness. In knee OA, the WOMAC function scale seems to be more sensitive than Lequesne's index for detecting changes after symptomatic therapy.