Job Stress and Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Job Stress and Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Job stress and other life stressors are well-known causative factors in many diseases, including cardiovascular ailments, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, hormone imbalances, and maladies of the immune system.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis, an immune system disorder, is now on the radar screen as a disease which may be caused, or at least exacerbated, by stress.

A recent study conducted in Sweden by Bengtsson, Theorell, Klareskog and Alfredsson (2009), focused on job stress, defined as high psychological demands coupled with low decision latitude.

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Bengtsson, et al, found that those with low decision latitude were significantly more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than the general population.

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A previous study by Walker, Littlejohn, McMurray, and Cutolo (1999) cites several research projects confirming the influence of the neuroendocrine and immune systems on the aetiology and progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Pharmacological treatments for rheumatoid arthritis leave much to be desired, and victims of the disease often suffer severely impaired quality of life.

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The addition of a stress management or other psychological treatment modality to the patients’ treatment plan would appear to be a useful and perhaps extremely beneficial approach to disease management and possible remission.

Exploration of the patient’s profile of stressors is an important component to determining an appropriate treatment plan.

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Job stress, no matter its form, is certainly one of the perturbations that can be classified as a chronic minor stressor. Interpersonal relationships, concern about job security, lack of training and unclear or unpredictable expectations all contribute to the sense of being out of control in the workplace.

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Given the amount of time people devote to their work, it is no wonder that job stress can add up to the point where it manifests in onset or exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis, among other ills.

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Stress management, training in coping skills, and guidance of the patient to determine the most appropriate and manageable job situation are all options to be considered in providing a more holistic approach to the management of this disease.

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Job Stress and Rheumatoid Arthritis