Some psychosocial factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

AbstractReaction to stress and stress tolerance resulting from diverse social and economic factors are evaluated by means of various psychologic tests in a group of rheumatoid arthritis and in a control group of nonrheumatoid arthritis patients. The arthritics show a greater incidence of psychophysiologic reaction than the controls. They show greater evidence of contained hostility, presumably because they are unable or unwilling to express feelings of dissatisfaction toward many stressful aspects of their environment. They are also unable to admit to themselves and to others their negative feelings toward their lot in life.