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Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, and multisystemic disease that has an impact on the quality of life and is associated with depressive symptoms. Objectives To evaluate the quality of life, overall health status, and depression in patients with RA. Patients and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient Rheumatology Outpatient Department of a General Hospital in Mexico City. All patients met the criteria for rheumatoid arthritis according to the American Rheumatism Association, 1987. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. Four measurement tools were used: Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS), Dunbar Questionnaire, a Visual Analog Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results A total of 43 patients aged ≥ 18 years were evaluated. The highest AIMS scores were in social activity (6.49±1.93), pain (4.70±2.04), depression (4.70±2.23), and physical activity (4.03±2.10). The mean score with the Dunbar questionnaire was 6.48±1.87, the mean Visual Analog Scale score was 69.41±24.67, and the mean of the Beck inventory was 15.74±9.85. Conclusions The presence of anxiety and depression has an impact on the quality of life of patients with RA, but not on the presence of comorbidity or disease activity. Depressive symptoms are common in patients with RA, and should therefore be considered when evaluating this rheumatological disease.

Our objective was to evaluate levels of trait and state anxiety in a group of peri- and postmenopausal women and to explore the relation of hormonal therapy to levels of anxiety. Peri- (n = 63) and postmenopausal (n = 236) women were evaluated between March and September 2013. The assessed variables were menopausal status, anxiety (using the state and trait anxiety inventory), and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Use of psychotropic medications and hormone therapy was also ascertained. The mean age of the participants was 51.9 years, ranging from 31 to 69 years. The mean state anxiety scores, as well as the mean trait anxiety scores, were higher in perimenopausal than postmenopausal women. High state anxiety (above the 75th percentile), but not high trait anxiety, was related to perimenopausal status. Anxiety levels appeared to be higher among perimenopausal than postmenopausal women, as also occurs with depressive symptoms. Anxiety state provides data about recent anxiety symptoms in women; however, anxiety trait could be present in some women before perimenopause. Our findings suggest that perimenopause is a period with increased anxiety levels in some women.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, and multisystemic disease that has an impact on the quality of life and is associated with depressive symptoms. Objectives: To evaluate the quality of life, overall health status, and depression in patients with RA. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient Rheumatology Outpatient Department of a General Hospital in Mexico City. All patients met the criteria for rheumatoid arthritis according to the American Rheumatism Association, 1987. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. Four measurement tools were used: Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS), Dunbar Questionnaire, a Visual Analog Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: A total of 43 patients aged ≥ 18 years were evaluated. The highest AIMS scores were in social activity (6.49±1.93), pain (4.70±2.04), depression (4.70±2.23), and physical activity (4.03±2.10). The mean score with the Dunbar questionnaire was 6.48±1.87, the mean Visual Analog Scale score was 69.41±24.67, and the mean of the Beck inventory was 15.74±9.85. Conclusions: The presence of anxiety and depression has an impact on the quality of life of patients with RA, but not on the presence of comorbidity or disease activity. Depressive symptoms are common in patients with RA, and should therefore be considered when evaluating this rheumatological disease. resumen Introducción: La artritis reumatoide (AR) es una enfermedad que afecta la calidad de vida de quienes la padecen y se asocia a sintomatologia depresiva. Objetivos: Evaluar la calidad de vida, el estado global de salud y depresión en pacientes con AR. Pacientes y métodos: Se trata de un estudio transversal y comparativo. Se incluyeron 43 adultos mayores, ≥ de 18 anos, con diagnóstico de AR según los criterios de la American Rheumatism Association de 1987, que acudían al servicio de consulta externa de Reumatologia de un hospital general en la ciudad de México. Se determinaron características clínicas y sociodemográficas. Se les aplicaron 4 índices: Escala de Medición del Impacto de la Artritis (AIMS), Cuestionario de Dunbar, Escala Análoga Visual y el Inventario de Depresión de Beck. Resultados: Se evaluaron 43 pacientes mayores de 18 anos, en su mayoría del sexo femenino. Para la AIMS, las puntuaciones más altas fueron en actividad social (6, 49 ± 1, 93), dolor (4,70 ± 2,04), depresión (4,70 ± 2,23) y actividad física (4,03 ± 2,10). Para el cuestionario de Dunbar la puntuación promedio fue de 6, 48 ± 1, 87, en la escala análoga visual la puntuación media fue de 69,41 ± 24,67, finalmente, en el inventario de Beck el promedio fue de 15,74 ±9,85. Conclusiones: La presencia de ansiedad y depresión se relacionan con la calidad de vida de los pacientes con AR mas no con la presencia de comorbilidad o actividad de la enfermedad. Los síntomas depresivos son comunes en pacientes con AR por lo que deben considerarse al evaluar esta enfermedad reumatológica.