PROsPer-RA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient Reported Outcomes in patients with Persistent Rheumatoid Arthritis (PROsPer-RA)
IRAS ID
261665
Contact name
Sam Norton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease that affects the joints. Left untreated it can cause swelling, pain and long-lasting damage to the bones and joint structures. Over the last 2 decades, great advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis have been made, with the use of more effective medicines being delivered earlier. Whilst this has been instrumental in reducing the inflammation that is primarily causing the disease, there are still those patients that exhibit high levels of symptoms related to mental health and well-being, as well as pain and fatigue, so called 'Persistent Psychological Symptoms'. Previous research has shown that patients with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety compared to the general population, and managing pain and fatigue continues to be difficult. There are thought to be links between the biological changes caused by rheumatoid arthritis and mental health, but these relationships are not clear. Whilst mental health symptoms are reported by patients as being important, they have received relatively little attention in research.
Therefore this research study looks to use detailed questionnaires to investigate mental health symptoms and general quality of life, as well as getting a more detailed understanding of other important symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, quality of sleep and their beliefs about their illness and medications. Questionnaires will be delivered over a 1-year period to see how their symptoms progress in line with the progression of their disease using clinical data collected alongside the questionnaires by their rheumatologist.
Using statistical methods, we will explore factors associated with having persistent symptoms in order that those patients can be identified early in their treatment, and so that psychological treatment strategies can be explored to help manage their symptoms.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1664
Date of REC Opinion
29 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion