Abstract

Prevalence of anxiety symptoms and it impact in people with osteoarthritis: An update

Author(s): Ray Marks

Anxiety, a very common psychological syndrome in the aging population, is a potential moderating factor in the context of disabling osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder affecting the older population. This narrative review examines the extent to which anxiety may preside among adults with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, regardless of site, and its linkage to the disabling process. Drawn largely from English language peer reviewed publications over the last 35 years, articles that discussed the topic of anxiety among cases with osteoarthritis were examined to demonstrate that this correlate is very important to evaluate and is amenable to treatment. Although not well represented in the vast body of literature, ample evidence implies untreated anxiety is likely to produce excess pain, and less optimal outcomes than that which is treated. It is concluded that more attention to this correlate in the clinical realm is highly desirable to offset the deleterious outcomes associated with one or more forms of anxiety, regardless of joint site, or disease duration.