Abstract
Objective. To determine whether pessimistic explanatory style altered the risk for and mortality of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods. The study included subjects from a population-based cohort with incident RA and a non-RA comparison cohort who completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.
Results. Among 148 RA and 135 non-RA subjects, pessimism was associated with development of rheumatoid factor (RF)–positive RA. Pessimism was associated with an increased risk of mortality [HR 2.88 with similar magnitude to RF+ (HR 2.28)].
Conclusion. Pessimistic explanatory style was associated with an increased risk of developing RA and increased mortality rate in patients with RA.
Footnotes
Supported by a research grant (R01 AR046849) and made possible by the Rochester Epidemiology Project (R01-AG034676) from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.
- Accepted for publication October 14, 2016.