FUNDAMENTAL AND OBJECTIVE: Psychological impairment is frequent in patients with 
rheumatic diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of 
symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with psoriatic arthritis 
attending rheumatology clinics.
PATIENTS AND METHOD: Multicentre cross-sectional study conducted in rheumatology 
clinics. Patients with psoriatic arthritis were recruited; variables retrieved 
were sociodemographic, clinical and patient centered (Hospital Anxiety and 
Depression scale o HADs, EQ-5D questionnaire, etc.). Prevalence in the study 
population was calculated as anxiety or depression symptoms by an HADs score ≥11 
or those receiving pharmacological treatment. A logistics regression model was 
used to know which variables were related to symptoms of anxiety or depression.
RESULTS: A total of 495 patients were included, 42.8% were women and median (SD) 
age was 50.4 (12.7) years. Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety were 29.7% and 
prevalence of symptoms of depression was 17,6%. Patients with anxiety or 
depression symptoms had all EQ-5D dimensions affected (p<0.01). Higher 
prevalence of anxiety was related to being a woman, a mixed onset pattern with 
respect to peripheral joints and those treated with DMARD alone with respect to 
DMARD+NSAID or biologic alone. A higher depression prevalence was related to 
being a woman and a mixed onset pattern with respect to peripheral joints.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms and the prevalence of depression 
symptoms are high among patients suffering psoriatic arthritis in the studied 
population.