Study Highlights Need for Improved Mental Health Care for People Living with Inflammatory Arthritis
January 22, 2025 (Vancouver) – Arthritis Research Canada study reveals people living with inflammatory types of arthritis are not receiving adequate mental health treatment for depression and anxiety.
Using British Columbia health data, researchers specifically found that 41% of individuals with inflammatory arthritis and depression are not receiving the mental health care they need – in the form of medications and/or psychological treatment. For individuals with inflammatory arthritis and anxiety, that number was 47%.
“Despite the substantial risk of depression and anxiety in inflammatory arthritis, there is limited understanding about the diagnosis and treatment for these psychiatric disorders, which is why this research is so important” said Dr. Alyssa Howren, who is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University and conducted this study while she was a Research Trainee at Arthritis Research Canada.
Altogether, the study found that 6,951 people who have inflammatory arthritis experienced depression and 3,701 had anxiety. When evaluating the specific types of mental health care, researchers found that 51% of people with inflammatory arthritis received adequate pharmacotherapy in the form of antidepressants for their depression. And 20% received adequate psychological treatment, such as counselling, for depression. The findings were similar for those struggling with anxiety.
While use of mental health care was similar to the general population, it is important to note that people living with inflammatory types of arthritis – like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis – are at risk for other complications when mental health remains untreated. For example, having depression can lead to delayed arthritis remission, increased risk of death and higher risk of hospitalization.
“Once people are ready to seek help for their mental health, they face many barriers to adequate care, including scarcity of publicly-funded services and financial obstacles to accessing private services,” said Dr. Mary De Vera, a Senior Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada. “This research reveals a dire need to increase the accessibility of mental health treatments for rheumatology patients.”
To read the full research paper, click here.
To learn about more mental health research, click here.
