Patient Perception of Depressive Symptoms in Rheumatic Diseases: A Cross-sectional Survey.

OBJECTIVES The presented study aimed to explore the presence and the self-identification of depressive symptoms among patients with rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) through the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). METHODS Between June and October 2019, patients from the regional association for people with RMDs in Lombardy, Italy (ALOMAR), were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey. Participants completed PHQ-9 along with a survey about their perception of depressive symptoms. Patients were stratified according to PHQ-9 score as follows: not depressed ( 10) was detected in 41.2% of respondents, only 8.3% reported that they experience depressive symptoms. Routine screening of RMD patients for depression is therefore critical.