Introduction
Arthritis is one of the most prevalent diseases, and is the leading cause of disability in the U.S (What is Arthritis, n.d). Moreover, the susceptibility to arthritis enhances with age, approximately half the population that reaches 65 years of age has arthritis (What is Arthritis, n.d). Essentially, arthritis refers to hindrance to the joint such as pain, swelling and reduced range of motion (What is Arthritis, n.d). There are over 100 types of arthritis, one to be noted for this paper is rheumatoid arthritis (What is Arthritis, n.d). This form of arthritis is an autoimmune disease, where the joints are targeted by the body’s immune system, resulting in inflammation (What is Arthritis, n.d). Consequently, due to its frequency
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This research concentrates on individuals with rheumatoid arthritis as well as investigates the psychological outcomes that often arise with experiencing chronic pain. More specifically, the paper utilized concepts from the Self-Determination theory to explore whether it could explain othe psychological outcomes that potentially occur with rheumatoid arthritis. This theory is concerned with individual’s motivation and personality. The main concepts of this theory include autonomy, competence, and relatedness. According to this theory, these factors are necessary for an individual’s basic psychological well-being. Therefore, these are utilized to see if they can assist with predicting pain outcomes. Subsequently, this research was conducted through the completion of online questionnaires that sampled a variety of notable screening tools such as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). The data was acquired through the participation of 317 rheumatoid arthritis patients. Prior to participation, individuals had to partake in an examination to ensure they met the standards for this cross-sectional study. Ultimately, the majority of the participants were female with the average age being 45 years old. After the data was collected, statistical software known as SPSS was applied. As a result, various types of analysis were made such as correlational analysis to examine …show more content…
Kahana, E. Kahana (2016). This investigation was concerned with the comorbidity of depression and arthritis in older adults. The goal of this research was to address 3 main points. Firstly, the research aimed to explore the diverse pain and depressive symptoms individuals can experience over a period of 4 years. Secondly, the research attempted to address the variation of pain and depressive symptoms due to the role of social support and cognitive functioning. Thirdly, the research explored inter-individual and intra-individual differences as a result of time. Consequently, this sequential study was conducted over a four-year period with yearly check-ins. Although the paper is referred to as a longitudinal study by the authors, the population that is being studied is broken down into additional cohorts throughout the research, it is not one characteristic that is re-assessed annually. Subsequently, this sequential study was a part of a larger study that initially began in 1989. The original goal was to address late-life adaption of retirement in older adults. However, for this new chapter of the study participants had to meet the requirements of being 72 years of age or older, habituate in Florida for over 9 months annually and lastly have the capacity to participate in a 90-minute interview. Therefore, of the 5204 residents in the area only 299 were deemed eligible to partake as they were
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory and an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissue (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017). This disease affects the entire body, which is called a systemic (means entire body) disease. Arthritis is derived from the word part arthr-, which means “joint,” and -itis, which means “inflammation,” so altogether it means “inflammation of the joints.” It creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (synovium) to thicken. About 1.5 million people in the U.S. are affected. It affects all races, but it affects three times as many women than men (What is Rheumatoid Arthritis, n.d.). Overtime, rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling that can potentially result in bone erosion or joint deformity, which leads up to physical disabilities. RA can affect more than just your joints, but can spread to body systems, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels, e.t.c (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017).
A long term condition not only brings the physical symptom of pain, but a number of psychological and social effects too. In 2014 the Department of Health recognised that the impact of having a long term condition can contribute to mental health problems like depression and anxiety (Department of Health, 2014). As well as finding ways to manage their physical symptoms, patients are encouraged to adopt acknowledge and address all of their health and wellbeing needs, in particular self-management at home and incorporating and educating the patient’s family and close friends as a support system (Kraaimaat and Evers, 2003). The suffering that a person with chronic pain endures not only impacts on their life, but also affects their family, time lost from employment and uses up precious healthcare resources.
Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the joints and it is the most common type of arthritis. Evidence shows that the majority of the people affected are the over 60 (S. R 2006) This disease damages the surfaces of the joints stopping it from moving as smoothly as it should. The disease can also be referred to as osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint tissues. Osteoarthritis is more common in women than men but the prevalence
Arthritis affects people of all age groups. More than 100 types of arthritis are known. Among these osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis having the highest incidence. One of the major causes of chronic debilitation in industrialized nations is Osteoarthritis which results from damage to the joints, which may be due to trauma, infection, or age-related wear. Rheumatoid arthritis is encountered less frequently than osteoarthritis and is estimated to affect around one per cent of the world’s population. Amongst patients of Rheumatoid arthritis, women are three times more likely to be affected by this condition than men. This condition is caused by an inflammatory process where the body starts attacking itself. Rheumatoid arthritis also affects several joints, with inflammation sometimes seen in and around the lungs, the heart, the eyes and the skin. The most commonly reported complaint by arthritis patients is pain. The pain might be from the joint itself and be a result of inflammation, damage from the disease, or through daily wear and tear. Muscle pain is also common and is caused by having to force movements against stiff and painful joints. Although range of movement in the affected joint may be limited and uncomfortable, physical exercise has been shown to benefit those with arthritis. Physical therapy has been shown to significantly improve function, decrease pain in the long term and delay the need for surgery in advanced cases. The majority of arthritis cases occur among theelderly, however the disease can occur in children as well. Over 70% of the population that get affected by arthritis in North America are over the age of 65 (4). The disease occurs more commonly in females than males in all races, age groups, and ethn...
Arthritis is a disease that causes pain and inflammation in the joints. It occurs due to the immune system having negative reactions to the joints. The immune system perceives the joints as bacteria and therefore attacks it causing inflammation. The most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid, psoriatic, and osteoarthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is common among the psoriasis victims. Often, a person first suffers from psoriasis and then later accompanied by psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis is a health condition that is characterized by red patches with silvery scales on the surface of the skin. There have been claims that fish oil can remedy this kind of arthritis. Below are the justifications;
Additionally, the older a person gets the more urgent it is to acquire if one has or is prone to depression, because according to The National Institute of Mental Health, depression, especially in midlife or older adults, can co-occur with other serious medical illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease, so in turn these conditions are often worse when depression is present. Depression can also cause physical symptoms, because certain brain chemicals or neurotransmitters influence both mood and pain; these symptoms may include joint pain, back pain, gastrointestinal problems, sleep disturbances, and appetite changes and the symptoms may also be accompanied by slowed speech and movements. (“What is Depression?” Page 4.) It is often known that many people will consult with multiple doctors to figure out why their habits and moods have so drastically changed when in fact they can potentially have clinical
Several studies also asserted that loneliness is correlated with aging itself (Tijhuis et al, 1999; Victor et al, 2000) and that there was a gradual increase in loneliness up to the age of 90 (Holmen, 1992). This increasing trend can be attributed to interactions with other factors due to additive nature of risk factors for loneliness and social isolation (Victor et al, 2000).
Rheumatoid Arthritis is when the joints are chronically inflamed, which happens because it is an autoimmune disease which means that the immune system attacks the body tissues. Although Rheumatoid Arthritis mainly affects the joints, it can also affect other organs.
Bibliography: Arthritis Foundation, Understanding Arthritis (1986); Kelley, William N., et al., eds., Textbook of Rheumatology, 2d ed., (1985); McCarty, Daniel F., ed., Arthritis and Allied Conditions, 11th ed. (1988); Moll, J. M. H., Rheumatology in Clinical Practice (1987).
The older adult population consists of people 65 and older (Miller, & Stoeckel, 2011). Depression is greater in women than men, however, the cause is unknown (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010). Both, males and females who have been previously depressed or have a biological relative with depression, have an increased risk of depression (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010). Seniors in long-term care facilities have a higher rate of being diagnosed with depression (14-42%) than those who continue to live within the community (1%-5%), therefore, levels of diagnosed depression fluctuate depending on location of residence (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010). A recent Canadian study shows 44% of older adults living in residential care have been diagnosed with depression or have symptoms of depression (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010). Depression can cause higher mortality rates, even when supplementary risk factors are considered, however, the reasons are not entirely understood (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010). Studies have shown that older adults with depression are one and a half to two times more likely to pass on than those without depression (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010).
Oliver, S. (2006). Benefits of patient pathways in rheumatoid arthritis care. Nursing Times. 102 (16), 28-33. Retrieved from http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice-clinical-research/benefits-of-patient-pathways-in-rheumatoid-arthritis-care/203268.article
Mavandadi, S., Ten Have, T. R., Katz, I. R., Durai, U. B., Krahn, D. D., Llorente, M. D., & ... Oslin, D. W. (2007). Effect of Depression Treatment on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adulthood: The Moderating Role of Pain. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 55(2), 202-211. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01042.x
Arthritis occurs when the body incorrectly identifies its own tissue as foreign matter and attacks it. Arthritis includes a set of more than eighty autoimmune diseases. Arthritis attacks connective tissues and joints. It causes stiffness, pain, inflammation, and swelling of the joints. Some kinds are crippling, but rarely leads to death. There are many different kinds of arthritis, the main ones being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis; others include gout and ankylosing spodylitis.
An analysed qualitative study of 120 active elderly subjects found out that marital status, income and leisure activities as well as psychological factors assessed by the Geriatric Depression scale had an impact on the quality of life of the seniors citizens (Alexandre, Cordeiro, & Ramos,
Mental health issues including cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression affect approximately 20 percent of the age 55 and over population with severe depression being most prevalent (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, 2013). Literature also suggests that depression, also described as feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness or pessimism, affects 15-20 percent of Americans age 65 and older (Aldrich & CDC, 2013). Depression is treatable, however is often overlooked or misdiagnosed in the aging population. This can further complicate the impact of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, which in turn can result with increase cost in healthcare (Aldrich & CDC, 2013). “The presence of depressive disorders often adversely affects the course and complicates the treatment of other chronic diseases. Older adults with depression visit the doctor and emergency room more often, use more medication, incur higher outpatient charges, and stay longer in the hospital” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, 2013).