THE EFFECT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ON THE SOCIAL SITUATION OF HOUSEWIVES

Thirty-seven housewives treated in hospital for rheumatoid arthritiswere investigated with particular reference to their husbands‘reactions. Although most patients had ’accepted‘the disease, many were distressed by both the physical aspectsof it (tiredness, pain and limitation of activities) and bythe psychological aspects (guilt, fear of being a burden, andnot understanding the disease). In 70% it was felt that theirhusbands understood the disease, but half the patients had difficultiesin coping with the anxiety of their husbands. Those whose arthritishad developed before marriage fared better in terms of fearof losing their independence, understanding the disease, guiltfeelings, adjustment to the disease, their husbands’ understandingand friction in the home. Patients with milder disease weremore anxious, but experienced the greater understanding of theirhusbands. Help was required in enabling the patients to cope with theirfears, to manage practically, and to deal with the anxiety oftheir husbands. Help in coping with the fears and in allayingthe anxiety of their husbands was most required in those withmild disease and those in whom it had progressed to become sociallydisabling, but without confining the patients to their homes. ^*Paper read at the Annual General Meeting of the British Associationfor Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, London, March 1976, byDr. John Lambert.