The Journal of rheumatology. Supplement
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The Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials Conference has significantly contributed to the field of clinical outcome measurement. Agreement was achieved in designating a preliminary core set of 8 endpoints to be used as a minimum in every rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trial of > or = 1 year: acute phase reactants, disability, pain, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, swollen joint count, tender joint count, and radiographic studies of joints. ⋯ The discussions made it clear that to select one intervention definitively over another, one must additionally consider outcomes such as drug toxicity, costs, and mortality. These aspects need to be explored systematically at subsequent conferences.
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Several existing techniques for diagnosing psychiatric illness in the presence of physical complaints are faulty. Psychiatric illness may affect only as few as 30% of patients with fibromyalgia in some series. ⋯ Some fibromyalgia disturbances can arise through insomnia and anxiety. Principles in the classification of fibromyalgia are discussed.