Higher Rates of Depression in Polymyalgia Rheumatica Are Strongly Associated With Poor Physical Function.

Summary: Imagine having aching muscles and stiff joints that make it hard to move. This condition is called polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Doctors wanted to know if PMR also affects a person's mood. They studied 36 people with PMR and 32 people without it. They found that up to 1 in 4 people with PMR had depression, which is much higher than those without the disease. The biggest reason for this depression wasn't just the pain, but how hard it was for them to do physical things. The worse their physical function, the more likely they were to feel depressed. This shows that treating the body is important, but doctors also need to check on their patients' mental health to help them feel better overall.