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News Releases
MARRTC researcher featured at ACR conference
Columbia, Mo. (Nov. 2, 2000) - The work of Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center researcher Karen Smarr, M.A., was highlighted at a national scientific meeting of rheumatologists and related health professionals.
The Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (MARRTC) is a federally funded organization headquartered at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Smarr’s research was presented at a national news conference 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 31 during the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology and Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals.
Held in Philadelphia, the annual meeting of the ACR started Oct. 29 and concludes Nov. 2. The meeting features presentations on research related to arthritis, a disease that affects about 15 percent of all Americans.
Smarr’s research examined the effects of treating people with rheumatoid arthritis and depression. Rheumatoid arthritis affects approximately 1 percent of all Americans.
Smarr’s work was among 27 papers presented during national press conferences held at the national meeting. The papers highlighted were chosen from the more than 2,000 presentations given at the ACR scientific meeting.
The ACR annual meeting typically draws about 8,000 rheumatologists and related health professionals, according to the ACR Web site.
In addition to the national press conference, Smarr presented her research at a podium presentation at 9:45 a.m. Nov. 2, 2000, during a concurrent session on the Psychological Issues in Rheumatic Diseases. The title of her paper was "Depression Management in Rheumatoid Arthritis: 15-Month Follow Up."
The research found evidence that people with rheumatoid arthritis and diagnosed depression benefited from treatment with antidepressant medications. With such treatment, people with rheumatoid arthritis and depression improved as measured in terms of depression, stress, coping, anxiety, fatigue, health status and disease activity.
Given that studies show that between 17 percent and 27 percent of people with rheumatoid arthritis are diagnosed with major depression, treatment of their depression could improve the overall care and reduce disability in persons with rheumatoid arthritis and major depression.
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