Mental health of patients suffering from connective tissue diseases. Negative and positive concept and selected correlates

Abstract

Aim. The purpose of the research was to assess mental health of people suffering from connective tissue diseases, both in negative terms, i.e., the presence of disorders, and in positive terms – patients’ well-being. Due to the specificity of connective tissue diseases, among others their unpredictable course and the pain that often accompanies patients, selected clinical and sociodemographic variables were included in the analyses. Method. 101 people participated in the study, 81 women and 20 men aged 18 to 57 years, suffering from various connective tissue diseases. Some people completed questionnaires during support group meetings (38.6%), others via the internet. The HADS–M scale was used to examine indicators of mental health in negative terms, the PERMA–Profiler questionnaire was used to assess well-being (an indicator of mental health in positive terms), and the authors’ own survey was used to obtain clinical and sociodemographic data. Results. Subjects suffering from connective tissue diseases are characterized by high severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Relationships between mental health and selected clinical and sociodemographic variables were observed, e.g., greater pain is associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression, and lower well-being; the level of well-being increases with age. Conclusions. It is important to monitor the mental health of people with chronic somatic diseases, including connective tissue diseases, especially in young people at the initial period of the disease, suffering from severe pain, residents of villages and small towns where access to support is limited.