Open AccessEffects of stress management on clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Parker Jerry C.,
Smarr Karen L.,
Buckelew Susan P.,
Stuckyropp RenéE C.,
Hewett John E.,
Johnson Jane C.,
Wright Gail E.,
Irvin William S.,
Walker Sara E.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780381214
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , learned helplessness , medicine , stress management , psychological intervention , physical therapy , coping (psychology) , arthritis , clinical psychology , nursing
Objective . To examine the effects of stress‐management training on clinical outcomes in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods . Patients with RA (n = 141) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a stress management group, an attention control group, or a standard care control group. The stress management and the attention control groups received a 10‐w eek intervention followed by an additional 15‐m onth maintenance phase. Results . The stress management group showed statistically significant improvements on measures of helplessness, self‐efficacy, coping, pain, and health status. Selected beneficial effects were still detectable at the 15‐m onth followup evaluation. Conclusion . The data indicated that stress management interventions are capable of producing important clinical benefits for persons with RA.