Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus frequently face anxiety and depression along with chronic physical symptoms. Reported rates of depression range from 15% to 24% and anxiety from 19% to 37% in this population. Women are disproportionately affected, with conditions occurring up to nine times more frequently than in men.
Multiple institutions led by Philipps-Universität Marburg’s Institute for Digital Medicine have found that a self-guided digital psychological intervention reduced psychological distress and improved quality of life for adults living with inflammatory rheumatic diseases over 12 weeks.
Care guidelines call for approaches that address mental and physical needs, yet access to psychological support remains limited, with long waits and service shortages. Digital programs offer in-home availability options that have gained acceptance among many clinicians and patients.
In the study, “Digital Psychological Intervention for Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases,” published in JAMA Network Open, researchers conducted a pilot randomized clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of a self-guided, web-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for individuals with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
A total of 102 adults in Germany were randomized with a mean age of 47.2 years and 90.2% female participants. Diagnoses included rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Randomization used a 1:1 allocation to the digital intervention plus treatment as usual or to treatment as usual with an informational leaflet. Assessments occurred at baseline, six weeks, and 12 weeks.
Primary outcomes were change in psychological distress on the German version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and change in quality of life on the Assessment of Quality of Life–8 Dimensions from baseline to three months in the intention-to-treat population.
Neither participants nor investigators were blinded, and stratification did not occur due to a technical error.
Over 12 weeks, participants felt less anxious and depressed and reported better day-to-day life; 13% more people using the program rated clinically meaningful improvement than with usual care alone. Depression and anxiety eased, stress fell, and confidence in managing health and health information grew.
Work and social functioning showed no clear change and there were no problems linked to the program.
Authors conclude that a self-guided digital psychological program can be an effective and safe option for people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, offering an accessible, convenient way to address mental health needs in rheumatology.
Written for you by our author Justin Jackson, edited by Sadie Harley, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive.
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More information:
Johannes Knitza et al, Digital Psychological Intervention for Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.29892
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Self-guided online program improves quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and lupus (2025, September 16)
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