Ankylosing spondylitis and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis: The relationship between living with these diseases and psychological well-being.

Abstract

This study explored the psychological impact of living with chronic pain as a result of ankylosing spondylitis or undifferentiated spondyloarthritis. The aim was to investigate individual's current pain experience and their current psychological state. A total of 161 individuals who had a clinical diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis or undifferentiated spondyloarthritis participated in an online survey. This survey measured daily/weekly pain, quality of life and psychological wellbeing. Results indicated that participants reported feeling high levels of pain consistently that impaired their daily functioning more than 50% of the time. Furthermore, on average participants reported experiencing extremely severe levels of psychological distress, that significantly correlated with their experience with pain. This research is significant as it highlights a need to address the psychological well-being of individuals who are diagnosed with chronic rheumatic disease in conjunction with the support they receive for their physical well-being. Furthermore, health professionals need to be mindful of the degree of debilitation associated with these diseases.