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Sjogren's syndrome affects the psychological state of patients

Sjogren's syndrome affects the psychological state of patients

Patients suffering from Sjögren's Syndrome, a systemic immune disease that affects the production of tears and saliva, have a worse mental state and more difficulties in identifying the feelings of others compared to those who do not have the disease. The results of a Dutch study, presented at the Annual Meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) in London.

The results of the Dutch study with 300 patients - mean age 56.8 years, 93% women - showed that 22% of patients with Sjögren's Syndrome were classified as clinically alexithymic, that is, with difficulties in identifying and describing their emotions, compared to 12% in the control group, who did not present Sjögren's Syndrome. Sjögren syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the patient's own immune system mistakenly attacks the tear and saliva-producing glands. The results of the study also showed that higher levels of alexithymia were moderately correlated with the worse mental state , in both groups, showing that there is a proven relationship between the two. In patients with Sjögren's Syndrome, levels of suppression of emotion also correlated with a worse mental state of the patients, an effect that was observed in a smaller scale in the control group.

Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome have a chronic experience of dryness of the eyes and mouth, as well as other parts of the body and therefore have an impaired ability to cry. This may affect their ability to express their emotions, and often they can only use words and phrases to express their feelings, rather than tears.

The Dutch researchers, led by Ninke Van Leeuwen of Utrecht, , now that the results of the study may lead to further research to examine different psychological interventions that may benefit patients with Sjögren's Syndrome.

Understand the disease

Sjögren's Syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease, in which the patient's own immune system mistakenly attacks the tear and saliva-producing glands.

The problem is because lymphocytes infiltrate these glands, causing a decrease in the production of saliva and tears. Thus, the main characteristic of Sjögren's Syndrome is dryness of the eyes and mouth, but it can also cause drying of the skin, nose and vagina, as well as affecting other organs of the body, including the kidneys, lungs, liver, pancreas and brain .

Fatigue and pain in the joints, which can significantly compromise the patient's quality of life, are also frequent symptoms. The diagnosis of the problem is not an easy task, since the symptoms of Sjögren's Syndrome may resemble those of other diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's

Due to the variety of symptoms, in addition to rheumatologic follow-up, the patient needs to be accompanied by other specialists, such as ophthalmologists, psychologists, gynecologists and dentists. It is important that the patient is attended by this multidisciplinary team, as not all dryness can be a result of Sjögren's Syndrome. Many medicines, including those used to treat high blood pressure, depression, colds, allergies and gastrointestinal problems can cause dry eyes and mouth.

Sjögren's Syndrome does not pose imminent risk of life, but certainly causes profound changes in the patient's life.

With appropriate therapeutic management, quality of life can be improved. As the disease has no cure, early diagnosis and intervention can affect the course of the disease. Treatment will depend on the symptoms and their degree of severity.


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