Pain following inflammatory joint diseases
To what extent are factors such as central sensitization, psychological strain, gender and systemic biomarkers associated with higher symptom strain?
Project Manager
PhD
Lisa Elstad
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 40-50% of patients report continued pain, despite little evidence of inflammation, disease activity, or tissue damage to explain the pain they report. The results suggest that the traditional biomedical perspective with a treatment strategy focused on reducing inflammation is insufficient for many people.
The project's aim is to identify subgroups of patients in pain with inflammatory joint diseases using a biopsychosocial framework, as well as to investigate differences in symptom burden and treatment response. We want to investigate the extent to which factors such as central sensitization, psychological factors, gender and genes/systemic biomarkers are associated with higher symptom strain.
The purpose is to increase awareness of how biopsychosocial factors are relevant to patient-reported outcomes and treatment response, in order to better tailor treatment for the relevant patient group in the future.
WHO CAN JOIN?
Men and women (>18 years at screening), who are part of the Nor-DMARD register, and consent to participation can be included in this sub-study.
There will be no other inclusion and exclusion criteria than those that are already part of the Nor-DMARD register. This means that all patients who are enrolled in Nor-DMARD will be invited to participate.
WHAT DOES THE STUDY INCLUDE?
The patients are monitored in a fixed monitoring system as part of Nor-DMARD. In this substudy, the patient will be examined twice, once at the start and once at the 3rd month.
The recruitment period will take place over two years starting in the autumn of 2024. During the course of the study, a clinical examination and ultrasound of joints, a neuropsychological test on a tablet, and standardized pain tests will be carried out. You will fill in questionnaires that include degree of pain, disease activity, quality of life and emotional well-being, as well as expectations of pain and coping beliefs.