Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInflammation and DepressionPsoriatic Arthritis and SleepMental Health EffectsTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Inflammation and Depression
Psoriatic Arthritis and Sleep
Mental Health Effects
Treatment
Prevention
Psoriatic arthritis can occur alongside depression and other mental health conditions such as anxiety. This may happen because of the significant impact chronic pain has on your quality of life.
Some researchers also believe that inflammatory responses may contribute directly to the development of depression.
Peter Dazeley / Getty Images
How PsA Inflammation Contributes to Depression
Psoriatic arthritis can have an impact on your mental health. The prevalence of depression in people with psoriatic arthritis is significantly higher than in the general population. Approximately 20% of PsA patients also struggle with depression.
Severe depression can sometimes occur in people with PsA, though it is less common than milder forms of depression.
Researchers have discovered that depression and inflammation are closely related.Inflammation in the body can lead to depression, and depression can lead to inflammation. Essentially, depression can be both a result of PsA symptoms a contributor to disease progression.
People with PsA often have high levels ofcytokines(immune system proteins) that trigger inflammation and may contribute to depression.The stigma and how much the disease impacts daily functioning can also play a role in depression.
Psoriatic arthritis can cause anxiety and pain, which often lead tosleep disturbances. If you have trouble sleeping, you know the debilitating fatigue lack of sleep can cause. You may have trouble concentrating, struggle to remember things, and experience mood changes. Disrupted sleep can also worsen joint pain.
How Do I Improve My Sleep?To stop the vicious cycle of anxiety and pain disrupting sleep, it’s important to get help. Talk with your healthcare provider, who may adjust your medications to better manage your symptoms. Lifestyle changes such as moderate exercise and dietary changes may also help relieve symptoms, reducepsoriatic arthritis flares, and improve your sleep.
How Do I Improve My Sleep?
To stop the vicious cycle of anxiety and pain disrupting sleep, it’s important to get help. Talk with your healthcare provider, who may adjust your medications to better manage your symptoms. Lifestyle changes such as moderate exercise and dietary changes may also help relieve symptoms, reducepsoriatic arthritis flares, and improve your sleep.
Quality of Life Effects of PsA
Along with its physical symptoms like painful, swollen joints, back and neck pain, and skin rashes, psoriatic arthritis can also affect your quality of life, which can in turn affect your mental health.
Some of the things that can contribute to a reduced quality of life for people with PsA include:
It’s important to treat your mental health as you would your physical health. Talk to your healthcare provider to discuss treatment options, and take time for self-care.
Does psoriatic arthritis get worse with age?Psoriasis symptoms can worsen with age, or they may come and go depending on genetic and environmental factors.
Does psoriatic arthritis get worse with age?
Psoriasis symptoms can worsen with age, or they may come and go depending on genetic and environmental factors.
Caring for Mental Health During PsA Treatment
If you have PsA, managing your mental health is important. Mental health conditions such asanxiety and depressioncan increase pain and worsen symptoms of the disease.
Self-Care
Relaxation techniques such as exercise, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and gentle stretching can help reduce PsA anxiety. One study found that individuals with arthritis who practicedmindful meditationfor a period of eight weeks experienced significant improvements in their mental health.
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene
It can be difficult to get a full night’ssleep with PsA, but there are steps you can take to help ensure you get the sleep you need:
Therapy
Working with atherapistcan allow you to process your feelings and understand your behaviors and thought patterns. Talking to a mental health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist can also provide you with a safe outlet for your feelings.
If you’re struggling with depression, you may be prescribed antidepressants to help provide symptom relief.
If you can’t find a local therapist, there are many websites and apps available that offer telehealth counseling sessions.
Is it safe to take antidepressants with PsA treatment?
Exercise
Getting regularexercise when you have PsAcan help reduce stress, depression, and anxiety. It may be difficult to exercise when you’re in pain, so choose no- and low-impact workouts, such as:
Aim to get at least 30 minutes a day of exercise. If that’s too much, you can space this out into three 10-minute workouts throughout the day.
Stay Social
While it can be tempting to withdraw from others when you’re dealing with depression and in pain, spending time with others can take your mind off the pain and may help reduce depression and anxiety.
Social support in the form of PsA support groups can provide an outlet to process your anxiety with people who understand. Some people find it helpful to talk to others who also have psoriatic arthritis since they can empathize with the struggles that come with PsA. Online and in-personsupport groupscan help you find the empathy and assistance you need.
What is the best drug to treat psoriatic arthritis?The effectiveness of drugs used to treat psoriatic arthritis can vary from person to person. Some people need only over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to control their symptoms, while others may require prescription drugs such as biologics, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or corticosteroids.
What is the best drug to treat psoriatic arthritis?
The effectiveness of drugs used to treat psoriatic arthritis can vary from person to person. Some people need only over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to control their symptoms, while others may require prescription drugs such as biologics, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or corticosteroids.
Staying Ahead of PsA Inflammation and Depression
While depression and PsA often go hand in hand, it’s important to treat them both as their own condition. Your PsA can impact your mental health, and your mental health can impact your PsA.
While it may be tempting to wait for the depression to go away on its own, seeking treatment can help ensure you feel better sooner. Antidepressant medication and therapy can reduce depressive symptoms.
It’s important to remember that stress is a common trigger for PsA flare-ups, so incorporatestress-reducing habitsinto your routine to help keep your stress levels low.
Summary
To cope with depression linked to psoriatic arthritis, practice self-care, manage your stress levels, find support, and get plenty of sleep. Talk with your healthcare provider about seeking therapy or taking antidepressants to help relieve depression symptoms and improve your mental health.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mental Health America.Chronic pain and mental health.Mathew AJ, Chandran V.Depression in psoriatic arthritis: Dimensional aspects and link with systemic inflammation.Rheumatol Ther. 2020;7(2):287-300. doi:10.1007/s40744-020-00207-6Lada G, Chinoy H, Talbot PS, Warren RB, Kleyn CE; BADBIR Study Group.Associations between psoriatic arthritis and mental health among patients with psoriasis: A replication and extension study using the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR).Skin Health Dis. 2022;2(4):e149. doi:10.1002/ski2.149Amodeo G, Trusso MA, Fagiolini A.Depression and inflammation: Disentangling a clear yet complex and multifaceted link.Neuropsychiatry. 2017;7(4). doi:10.4172/Neuropsychiatry.1000236.Di Carlo M, Becciolini A, Incorvaia A, et al.Mild cognitive impairment in psoriatic arthritis: Prevalence and associated factors.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(11):e24833. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000024833Guraya A, Sanwo EJ, Nair KM, Kannayiram SS, Idolor ON, Odion JO.Psoriatic arthritis hospitalization is associated with increased health care charges: A report from the National Inpatient Sample.Cureus. 2020;12(12):e12275. doi:10.7759/cureus.12275Dalili Z, Bayazi MH.The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on the illness perception and psychological symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;34:139-144. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.11.012Arthritis Foundation.Treatment options for psoriatic arthritis.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mental Health America.Chronic pain and mental health.Mathew AJ, Chandran V.Depression in psoriatic arthritis: Dimensional aspects and link with systemic inflammation.Rheumatol Ther. 2020;7(2):287-300. doi:10.1007/s40744-020-00207-6Lada G, Chinoy H, Talbot PS, Warren RB, Kleyn CE; BADBIR Study Group.Associations between psoriatic arthritis and mental health among patients with psoriasis: A replication and extension study using the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR).Skin Health Dis. 2022;2(4):e149. doi:10.1002/ski2.149Amodeo G, Trusso MA, Fagiolini A.Depression and inflammation: Disentangling a clear yet complex and multifaceted link.Neuropsychiatry. 2017;7(4). doi:10.4172/Neuropsychiatry.1000236.Di Carlo M, Becciolini A, Incorvaia A, et al.Mild cognitive impairment in psoriatic arthritis: Prevalence and associated factors.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(11):e24833. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000024833Guraya A, Sanwo EJ, Nair KM, Kannayiram SS, Idolor ON, Odion JO.Psoriatic arthritis hospitalization is associated with increased health care charges: A report from the National Inpatient Sample.Cureus. 2020;12(12):e12275. doi:10.7759/cureus.12275Dalili Z, Bayazi MH.The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on the illness perception and psychological symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;34:139-144. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.11.012Arthritis Foundation.Treatment options for psoriatic arthritis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mental Health America.Chronic pain and mental health.Mathew AJ, Chandran V.Depression in psoriatic arthritis: Dimensional aspects and link with systemic inflammation.Rheumatol Ther. 2020;7(2):287-300. doi:10.1007/s40744-020-00207-6Lada G, Chinoy H, Talbot PS, Warren RB, Kleyn CE; BADBIR Study Group.Associations between psoriatic arthritis and mental health among patients with psoriasis: A replication and extension study using the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR).Skin Health Dis. 2022;2(4):e149. doi:10.1002/ski2.149Amodeo G, Trusso MA, Fagiolini A.Depression and inflammation: Disentangling a clear yet complex and multifaceted link.Neuropsychiatry. 2017;7(4). doi:10.4172/Neuropsychiatry.1000236.Di Carlo M, Becciolini A, Incorvaia A, et al.Mild cognitive impairment in psoriatic arthritis: Prevalence and associated factors.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(11):e24833. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000024833Guraya A, Sanwo EJ, Nair KM, Kannayiram SS, Idolor ON, Odion JO.Psoriatic arthritis hospitalization is associated with increased health care charges: A report from the National Inpatient Sample.Cureus. 2020;12(12):e12275. doi:10.7759/cureus.12275Dalili Z, Bayazi MH.The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on the illness perception and psychological symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;34:139-144. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.11.012Arthritis Foundation.Treatment options for psoriatic arthritis.
Mental Health America.Chronic pain and mental health.
Mathew AJ, Chandran V.Depression in psoriatic arthritis: Dimensional aspects and link with systemic inflammation.Rheumatol Ther. 2020;7(2):287-300. doi:10.1007/s40744-020-00207-6
Lada G, Chinoy H, Talbot PS, Warren RB, Kleyn CE; BADBIR Study Group.Associations between psoriatic arthritis and mental health among patients with psoriasis: A replication and extension study using the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR).Skin Health Dis. 2022;2(4):e149. doi:10.1002/ski2.149
Amodeo G, Trusso MA, Fagiolini A.Depression and inflammation: Disentangling a clear yet complex and multifaceted link.Neuropsychiatry. 2017;7(4). doi:10.4172/Neuropsychiatry.1000236.
Di Carlo M, Becciolini A, Incorvaia A, et al.Mild cognitive impairment in psoriatic arthritis: Prevalence and associated factors.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(11):e24833. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000024833
Guraya A, Sanwo EJ, Nair KM, Kannayiram SS, Idolor ON, Odion JO.Psoriatic arthritis hospitalization is associated with increased health care charges: A report from the National Inpatient Sample.Cureus. 2020;12(12):e12275. doi:10.7759/cureus.12275
Dalili Z, Bayazi MH.The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on the illness perception and psychological symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;34:139-144. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.11.012
Arthritis Foundation.Treatment options for psoriatic arthritis.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
