A randomized controlled trial of an internal family systems-based psychotherapeutic intervention on outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis: a proof-of-concept study.

Objective: To conduct a proof-of-concept randomized trial of an Internal Family Systems (IFS) psychotherapeutic intervention on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity and psychological status.

Methods: Patients with RA were randomized to either an IFS group for 9 months (n = 39) or an education (control) group (n = 40) that received mailed materials on RA symptoms and management. The groups were evaluated every 3 months until intervention end and 1 year later.

Factors associated with attrition in a longitudinal rheumatoid arthritis registry.

Objective: Loss of participants in longitudinal data collection can affect the validity of outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) registries. Prior research indicates that demographics and socioeconomic and psychosocial factors contribute to attrition. This study analyzed the characteristics of an RA registry that may contribute to attrition in a hospital-based population.

Clinical course and management of a consecutive series of patients with "healed temporal arteritis".

Objective: To describe the clinical course and management of patients with a pathologic diagnosis of "healed" giant cell arteritis (GCA), and to determine whether previously published histological descriptions of healed arteritis can identify patients with a greater likelihood of clinically significant arteritis.

Methods: All temporal artery biopsy reports between 1994 and 2003 were examined for a diagnosis of "healed arteritis." Two rheumatologists abstracted the medical record for presenting features, physical findings, comorbid conditions, and data on treatment and outcomes.

Decreasing medical complications for total knee arthroplasty: effect of critical pathways on outcomes.

Background: Studies on critical pathway use have demonstrated decreased length of stay and cost without compromise in quality of care. However, pathway effectiveness is difficult to determine given methodological flaws, such as small or single center cohorts. We studied the effect of critical pathways on total knee replacement outcomes in a large population-based study.

Comparison of symptoms, treatment, and outcomes of coronary artery disease among rheumatoid arthritis and matched subjects undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the presenting symptoms of CAD, coronary anatomy (single versus multi-vessel CAD), and treatment among a group of subjects undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with angioplasty and/or stenting.

Methods: We evaluated a retrospective cohort of 43 RA subjects and 43 matched non-RA subjects undergoing PCI at 2 academic referral centers.