Depressive symptoms among females with primary Sjögren’s syndrome, early-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy female controls (HC)

Depression is a frequent symptom associated with chronic diseases such as primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Researchers assessed differences in depressive symptoms among female Sjögren’s syndrome patients, recent-onset RA patients and HC. Forty-eight female Sjögren’s syndrome patients, 84 early-onset RA patients, and 64 HC were studied. RA patients and HC were interviewed by telephone, whereas Sjögren’s syndrome patients completed self-administered questionnaires. Xerostomia was assessed using a questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The mean CES-D score of RA patients (12.3) was higher than the community average of 9, and the Sjögren’s CES-D mean score was 16.9. A score of greater than 16 is indicative of clinical depression. Mean CES-D score for HC was 8. Sjögren’s syndrome patients had more dry mouth symptoms than the early RA patients, but early RA patients had more sicca symptoms than HC. Researchers found that Sjögren’s syndrome patients have a greater prevalence of clinical depression and are more depressed than RA patients or HC. Interestingly, dry mouth symptoms were found commonly even among early-onset RA patients.

Study conducted by: Susan T. Reisine, Dental School, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT; Ann L. Parke, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT.

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