Negative affect and pain in arthritis.

The experience of pain in arthritis conditions has important affective dimensions. This article reviews evidence for a relatively strong association between negative affect (i.e.

Predictors of subjective fatigue among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To examine a range of variables potentially associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related fatigue and to determine which variables best predict subjective fatigue.

Methods: Measures of fatigue, disease activity, pain, and various psychosocial factors were gathered from 73 individuals with RA. Correlations between fatigue and other variables were examined, and the "best" predictors of fatigue were determined with multiple regression analyses.

Self-efficacy predicting outcome among fibromyalgia subjects.

Objectives: This study examined whether pretreatment self-efficacy and pre- to post-treatment changes in self-efficacy predict post-treatment tender point index, disease severity, pain, and physical activity.

Methods: One hundred nine subjects with fibromyalgia were assessed before and after a 6-week training intervention. Measures included tender point index, physician ratings of disease severity, the visual analog scale for pain, the Physical Activities subscale of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales, and the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale.

Selection of measures suitable for evaluating change in fibromyalgia clinical trials.

Objective: To use growth curve model methods to investigate which of 46 variables associated with fibromyalgia (FM) clinical trials are potentially useful in measuring change.

Methods: For each of the 46 variables the reliability of change and corresponding standard error were estimated. Data were from a randomized clinical trial designed to compare the effectiveness of biofeedback/relaxation, exercise, and a combined program for the treatment of FM.