11 Rheumatoid Arthritis and Depression Facts

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Understanding RA and depression

By Denise Mann

People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are about twice as likely to be depressed as people without this inflammatory autoimmune disease.

That's no shocker: It makes sense that living with chronic pain, and potential disability, can make you feel helpless and hopeless. However, the relationship may be more complex than that; the inflammation itself may play a role in causing or contributing to depression.

The good news is that treating the depression can improve your quality of life, and maybe even ease joint pain and inflammation associated with RA.

Next: Depression doubles mortality risk