Psychosocial Burden across Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Psoriatic Arthritis: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Objective: To compare the perceived social support and psychosocial burden of patients with psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Study Design: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Madinah Teaching Hospital / University Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad from January to June 2025.

Methods: Based on estimations from the World Health Organization calculator and corrected for non-response, 500 persons with psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis were included in the sample. Stratified random sampling was used to choose the eligible participants. A standardized questionnaire that included sociodemographic information, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 was used to gather data in person. Tukey post-hoc tests, one-way analysis of variance, and descriptive statistics were used in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 analysis; p < 0.05 was deemed significant.

Results: PsA patients showed significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress (p<0.05) than RA and OA patients, as well as the lowest scores of MSPSS.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the significant psychological burden experienced by PsA patients as well as the significance of patient education, mental health screening, and a multidisciplinary approach in rheumatology therapy.