PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mariana Galante Santiago
AU  - Andréa Marques
AU  - Marianne Kool
AU  - Rinie Geenen
AU  - José António P. da Silva
TI  - Invalidation in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases: Clinical and Psychological Framework
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.160559
DP  - 2017 Apr 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 512--518
VI  - 44
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/44/4/512.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/44/4/512.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2017 Apr 01; 44
AB  - Objective. The term “invalidation” refers to the patients’ perception that their medical condition is not recognized by the social environment. Invalidation can be a major issue in patients’ lives, adding a significant burden to symptoms and limitations while increasing the risk of physical and psychological disability. In this study in patients with rheumatic diseases, we investigated the relationship between invalidation and sociodemographic, clinical, psychological, and personality characteristics.Methods. This international cross-sectional study included 562 adults with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 124), spondyloarthritis (n = 85), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 112), or fibromyalgia (FM; n = 241). Assessed were the family and health professionals subscales of the Illness Invalidation Inventory (3*I), happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale), personality (Ten-Item Personality Inventory), pain, and loneliness (numerical rating scales). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to test different models.Results. Invalidation occurred in all rheumatic diseases, but patients with FM reported the most invalidation. Including all correlated variables in the multivariate model, pain remained as a determinant of invalidation by health professionals, but not by family. Regarding psychological variables, loneliness remained as a determinant of invalidation by family, but not by health professionals. FM and low levels of happiness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were associated with invalidation while taking account of other variables.Conclusion. Invalidation occurs in all rheumatic diseases and patients with FM experience the most invalidation. Psychological factors (happiness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness), loneliness, and pain intensity are associated with invalidation, irrespective of the rheumatic disease and may deserve dedicated interventions.