Cognitive-behavioural therapy targeting fear of progression in an interdisciplinary care program: a case study in systemic sclerosis.

People living with chronic illness often report uncertainty about the future, fear of disease progression, fear of becoming physically disabled, and a reduced life expectancy as important sources of stress. However, little is known about psychological interventions targeting these concerns. The aim of this study is to illustrate an intervention to reduce emotional distress and concerns about the future in a patient with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a rare chronic rheumatic disease with serious consequences for most patients, and to present a preliminary report on its effectiveness using a single-case study design.

Effectiveness of a group-based intervention to change medication beliefs and improve medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effect of a group-based intervention on the balance between necessity beliefs and concern beliefs about medication and on medication non-adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Non-adherent RA patients using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were randomized to an intervention or control arm. The intervention consisted, amongst others, of two motivational interviewing-guided group sessions led by the same pharmacist.

An acceptance-oriented cognitive-behavioral therapy in multimodal rehabilitation: a pre-post test evaluation in highly distressed patients with rheumatic diseases.

Objective: To examine the potential effectiveness of a multimodal rehabilitation program including an acceptance-oriented cognitive-behavioral therapy for highly distressed patients with rheumatic diseases.

Methods: An observational study employing a one-group pre-post test design (N=25). The primary outcome was psychological distress.

Cross-language measurement equivalence of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale in systemic sclerosis: a comparison of Canadian and Dutch patients.

Objectives: Increasingly, medical research involves patients who complete outcomes in different languages. This occurs in countries with more than one common language, such as Canada (French/English) or the United States (Spanish/English), as well as in international multi-centre collaborations, which are utilized frequently in rare diseases such as systemic sclerosis (SSc). In order to pool or compare outcomes, instruments should be measurement equivalent (invariant) across cultural or linguistic groups.

Disease-related and psychosocial factors associated with depressive symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis, including fear of progression and appearance self-esteem.

Objective: The prevalence of depressive symptoms is high in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc, scleroderma). This study was conducted to determine which disease-related and psychosocial factors are associated with depressive symptoms, independent of sociodemographic factors.

Methods: In total, 215 patients with SSc completed questionnaires on sociodemographics, physical functioning (HAQ-DI), pain (VAS), fatigue (CIS), psychosocial characteristics (CISS, ICQ, PRQ, ASE, FoP-Q-SF) and depressive symptoms (CES-D).

Validity of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To validate the Dutch translation of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF) for patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Although concerns about the future are often expressed by patients with SSc, there is no valid quantitative measure available to assess the extent to which patients with SSc are troubled by those concerns.

Methods: Measurement properties of the FoP-Q-SF were assessed using a cross-sectional design that included 215 patients with SSc.

Behavior change, acceptance, and coping flexibility in highly distressed patients with rheumatic diseases: feasibility of a cognitive-behavioral therapy in multimodal rehabilitation.

Objective: To describe the development and feasibility of the integration of a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) within a multimodal rehabilitation program for highly distressed patients with rheumatic diseases.

Methods: Development included the detailed specification of the theoretical and empirical-based underpinnings of the CBT and the comprehensive description of its design and content. Feasibility was assessed by percentage of eligible patients, attrition and attendance rates, and patient satisfaction.

Addressing patient health care demands in systemic sclerosis: pre-post assessment of a psycho-educational group programme.

Objectives: Patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) report a high need for education and support. To address these needs, a short, group-based psycho-educational programme for patients with SSc was developed and evaluated.

Methods: A pre-post test design was utilised.

The coping flexibility questionnaire: development and initial validation in patients with chronic rheumatic diseases.

Coping flexibility may be beneficial for the adjustment in the context of a progressive and unpredictable course of chronic rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to develop and initially validate a self-report measure that assesses coping flexibility. Study participants were 147 outpatients with chronic rheumatic diseases (73% women, mean age 59 (range 20-79) years).

Longitudinal association between coping and psychological distress in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review.

Objective: To examine the longitudinal association between coping and psychological distress in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Bibliographic databases up to July 2010 were searched for longitudinal studies with a follow-up of ≥6 months. Two reviewers assessed the methodological quality of the included studies.