Impact of Life Events and Psychological Stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis Set-up : Case-control Study Within a Multifactorial and Integrative Psychological Model

The physiopathology of RA is multifactorial, implicating genetic and environmental factors. Within the environmental factors, the exact role of psychological stress and life events on the onset of the disease is still under question. In clinical practice, patients usually report the occurrence of a stressing life event before the diagnosis of the disease (mourning, dismissal, divorce…). Nevertheless, literature reviews present some discrepancies and did not lead to a clear identification of the role of psychological stress in RA onset. This is mainly due to the evaluation methods of stress within those previous studies, considering stress as a unique response of the organism without taking into account personal, sociological, biological or environmental history. The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of stress on the RA onset within an integrative model, to evaluate patient assessment of the stress, and to present strategies to fix it.

Patients RA :

Inclusion criteria

• patients aged over 18 years old
• patients affected by RA according to ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria, with a disease duration less than 2 years.
• Speaking and understanding French language
• Being informed about the study and having given his oral consent

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Patient who refuse to participate.

Control :

Inclusion criteria

• patients aged over 18 years old
• patients with a visceral surgery for less than 2 years (appendectomy, cholecystectomy, bowel obstruction, hernia, eventration…)
• Speaking and understanding French language
• Being informed about the study and having given his oral consent

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Patient who refuse to participate