PMID: 29465354Feb 22, 2018Paper

Self-reported childhood maltreatment, lifelong traumatic events and mental disorders in American and Israeli rheumatoid arthritis patients

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
Rona Merdler-RabinowiczJacob N Ablin

Abstract

Psychological stress is thought to play a major role in the development and exacerbation of autoimmune diseases in general, as well as in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in particular. The aims of the current study are to compare retrospective self-reports of childhood maltreatment and lifetime major life/traumatic experiences of American and Israeli RA patients, using standardised instruments, while adjusting for concomitant mental disorders and psychological distress, in order to rule out their part in the subjective reports, thus addressing the trans-cultural robustness of the association between childhood maltreatment, traumatic experiences and RA. RA patients at the participating study centres were recruited by their physicians, both in Israel and the USA. Patients filled out questionnaires regarding demographic data, disease activity, psychological distress, potential anxiety and potential depression. In addition, patients answered questions regarding pain and childhood maltreatment. 83 RA patients were recruited in the US and 23 patients in Israel. The comparison of CTQ-subscales between the US and Israeli cohorts showed significant differences between the groups only in the subscales of emotional neglect (US 10.30±5.05, Israe...Continue Reading

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