Abstract
Objectives. This research was carried out in two stages: the objectives of the first stage were (1) to identify the existing relationships between the level of anxiety, the frequency of automatic negative thoughts, and unconditional self-acceptance and (2) to capture the existing differences regarding these variables between people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and those with no such medical history. Methods. The sample made up of 50 subjects filled out the following three questionnaires: the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, and the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire. Results. Psychological anxiety is positively correlated with automatic negative thoughts, while unconditional self-acceptance is negatively correlated with both psychological anxiety and somatic anxiety as well as with automatic negative thoughts. All studied variables were significantly different in rheumatoid arthritis as compared to the control population. Conclusions. The results showed the presence to a greater extent of anxiety and automatic negative thoughts, along with reduced unconditional self-acceptance among people with rheumatoid arthritis. Intervention on these variables through support and counseling can lead to reducing anxiety and depression, to altering the coping styles, and, implicitly, to improving the patients' quality of life.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the main and most common inflammatory rheumatic diseases that affect the joints, causing chronic pain and disability [1]
The results showed the presence to a greater extent of anxiety and automatic negative thoughts, along with reduced unconditional self-acceptance among people with rheumatoid arthritis
Coping—seen as a general concept employed to describe cognitive, emotional and behavioral reactions to stressful events and situations—and perception of the disease appear as the most significant variables in the relationship between physical and psychological factors in RA [5]. This is explained by the fact that in the process of coping one can trace three dimensions: (1) one related to the set of cognitions concerning the significance that a person attributes to a stressful event; (2) a second dimension related to the set of cognitions that a person has with regard to resources for coping with a stressful event; (3) and a third dimension referring to avoidance-oriented coping [5, page 204]
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the main and most common inflammatory rheumatic diseases that affect the joints, causing chronic pain and disability [1]. In arthritis disability has been associated with damaging effect on the joints, gradually, the predictive nature of psychological and social factors has been acknowledged in increasing disability over time (e.g., attitude towards the disease, coping styles, anxiety, automatic negative thoughts, or depression) This can determine significant influences in carrying out one’s roles, in one’s quality of life and mental health [2]. In the case of people diagnosed with RA, research studies focused on finding answers to two questions: how these people use coping mechanisms in this disease and why, when faced with the same stressful events, people cope differently With these patients, psychotherapeutic approaches focused on behavioral therapy, on cognitive therapy, on education for ISRN Rheumatology arthritis, on stress management, or on supportive counseling [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
