The mood and stress, two indicators of pain in children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

In children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, increased stress and a rather sad mood worsens symptoms of the disease and is an indicator of renouncing certain social and educational activities, if one believes a U.S. study published in the journal "Arthritis & Rheumatism".
Dr. Laura Schanberg, of Duke University Medical Center, and colleagues analyzed, in children with polyarticular juvenile arthritis, the potential links between the mood of the children, the stress to which they were exposed and symptoms of illness and activity limitation resulting.

For this, 51 young patients, aged 8-18 years, were asked to complete each day for two months in a calendar which different validated tools allow them to assess their symptoms (pain, stiffness and fatigue), and stress that If they had felt during the day, their mood and the activities they had to give up because of their disorders.

The analysis of data collected in these agendas has allowed U.S. researchers found that young patients while they were receiving treatment to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, reported having experienced pain, fatigue and stiffness for more than 70% of the duration of the study, with a large variability in the severity of symptoms.

Yet, despite their symptoms, they rated their mood as more positive for more than 90% of the time study period.

The researchers also observed that the mood changes of young patients from one day to another, and an increase of daily stress were associated with increased reporting of symptoms.

The days when children reported mood swings, increased stress they faced, as well as increased pain, stiffness and fatigue, have also emerged as being marked by reduced participation sick children to various social activities.

Regarding truancy, only the mood and stiffness emerged as important indicators.

In view of these results, Dr. Laura Schanberg recommends to his colleagues, in a statement released by the institution in which it operates, to endeavor to deal "aggressively" different symptoms that can feel their young patients. Indeed, the fact that their conditions require them to "give up some games or school activities can reinforce feelings of isolation, depression and impaired quality of life," she says.

However, she says that she says, "implement aggressive treatment does not require necessarily by adding a drug or change the current process, but use more effective cognitive-behavioral therapy and relaxation techniques and stress management. "