Factors Associated With Anxiety, Depression and Suicide Ideation in Female Outpatients with SLE in Japan

84 female Japanese outpatients with systemic lupus erythematosus were studied. Trait anxiety, state anxiety, depression, & suicide ideation were evaluated using psychological tests & the relationships between the respective psychological features & background factors were statistically evaluated using stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses. “Human relations among family members” & “high daily steroid dosage” were found to be significantly correlated with suicide ideation. Performing psychological approaches focusing on understanding the disease at the beginning of treatment, family relationships, & issues related to steroid therapy may be useful in the early treatment of or prevention of various major mental health problems. (31 refs.) JA