Key clinical point: Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have high anxiety levels before initiating biologics, which decreased within 6 months thereafter and was tied with better patient outcomes.
Major finding: Overall, 64% of patients had high anxiety levels before initiating biologics, with the proportion of patients with high anxiety levels and mean anxiety scores decreasing significantly within 6 months of initiating biologics (both P < .001). A change in anxiety score correlated positively with a change in pain score, patient global assessment score, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index score, Disease Activity Score-28, and PsA Impact of Disease score (all P < .05).
Study details: Findings are from an analysis of 147 patients with PsA who initiated biologic agents and had an anxiety score assessed at both baseline and first visit within 6 months.
Disclosures: This study did not report any source of funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Ayan G et al. Clin Rheumatol. 2022 (Jan 27). Doi: 10.1007/s10067-021-06012-y.