Anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in use of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide and biological drugs

Abstract Objective This paper aims to investigate the prevalence of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking different drugs to control the disease. Methods The study included 105 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated with methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine and biological drugs. All patients were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results Difference was statistically significant (p  Conclusion Greater scores for depression, as a comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis, increase the rate of suicidal ideation and depression also can worsen general pain, hardships, treatment denial, and prognosis, as well as cause a faster reduction in quality of life. Patients taking biologic DMARDs (drugs known as disease-modifying drugs) had the highest rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among all patients studied. The current analysis showed that psychiatric aspects such as depression, anxiety and even suicide ideation, may differ between groups of patients with arthritis according to the drug used, serving as an alert to the importance of considering also this factors in therapeutic decisions.