Recent studies show that patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have a higher risk of depression, with prevalence rates between 11.6% and 22.2%. Factors such as female gender, pain, fatigue, and high joint count are linked to depression and anxiety in patients with PsA. Biological mechanisms seen in other inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, may also contribute to depression in PsA. However, these studies lack comprehensive data on depression incidence or suicidal behaviors. This study, using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, aimed to estimate rates of treated depression and suicidal behaviors in patients with PsA compared to those without PsA.

The study found that patients with PsA had a higher incidence of treated depression, especially among women and younger patients. Suicidal behaviors were similar across both groups, with no significant differences between patients with PsA and patients with non-PsA. Depression rates were higher in patients with PsA receiving systemic therapies, particularly immunosuppressants and corticosteroids. These results suggest that depression in treated patients with PsA may be linked to the severity of the disease, as those requiring treatment are more likely to have severe PsA. Overall, the study supports the connection between PsA and increased depression risk, with suicidal behaviors being similarly prevalent in both groups.

Reference: Hagberg KW, Li L, Peng M, et al. Incidence rates of suicidal behaviors and treated depression in patients with and without psoriatic arthritis using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Mod Rheumatol. 2016 Sep;26(5):774-9. doi: 10.3109/14397595.2015.1136726. Epub 2016 Feb 16. PMID: 26882216; PMCID: PMC5020333.