Body image of women with rheumatoid arthritis
S. Gutweniger1, M. Kopp1, E. Mur2, V. Günther1
1Unit of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry; 2Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
ABSTRACT
Objective
Physical disabilities generally cause severe disturbances in a patient’s body
image perception. The aim of the present study was to investigate different aspects of
body image, including sexual dissatisfaction, in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in
relation to their subjective impression of handicap.
Methods
Forty women with RA were investigated using a series of instruments: Strauss and
Appelt’s questionnaire for assessing one’s body (1), the body perception scale
of Paulus (2), and an interview focusing on appearance, worries about health and sickness,
and sexual dissatisfaction. In addition, clinical parameters and the subjective extent of
morning stiffness were documented, and patients with a high degree of morning stiffness
were compared to patients with a low degree of morning stiffness.
Results
In contrast to patients with a low degree of morning stiffness, patients with a high
degree of morning stiffness worried significantly more about their bodies (p £
0.05) and
reported significantly more problems in sexuality (p £
0.05).
Conclusion
Our results suggest that morning stiffness plays a very important role in how severely
a woman feels herself to be handicapped. Severely handicapped women have to deal with
anxieties about health and have sexual problems. Physicians should not shy away from
addressing these issues and in severe cases psychological therapy should be initiated.
Key words
Body image, sexuality, rheumatoid arthritis.
Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Prof. Verena Günther, Unit of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Clin Exp Rheumatol 1999; 17: 413-417.
© Copyright Clinical
and Experimental Rheumatology
1999.