Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the spinal discs, joints, and tendons. This leads to spinal arthritis with stiffness and inflammation.
If AS progresses, it may even lead to spinal fusion, where the vertebrae fuse together and make the spine immobile. This in turn can severely limit your mobility and then your quality of life. As a result, research shows that people with ankylosing spondylitis are more likely to also suffer from depression when compared to the general population.
Nilasha Ghosh, MD, MS, is a board-certified Rheumatologist with expertise in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory arthritis, and musculoskeletal medicine.
References
Esen, S. A., et al. (2018). Effects of the disease characteristics and the treatment on psychological status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Current Rheumatology Reviews.
MedlinePlus. (2016). Ankylosing spondylitis.
Palmer, C. (2021). How inflammation, stress, and other factors can lead to depression. Monitor on Psychology.
The Rheumatologist. (2019). Depression in ankylosing spondylitis: Mastery is key.
Wadeley, A., et al. (2018). Sleep in ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: associations with disease activity, gender and mood. Clinical Rheumatology.
Webers, C., et al. (2019). Depression in ankylosing spondylitis and the role of disease-related and contextual factors: a cross-sectional study. Arthritis Research & Therapy.
Wenker, K. J., et al. (2022). Ankylosing spondylitis. StatPearls [Internet].
Zochling, J., et al. (2006). Infection and work stress are potential triggers of ankylosing spondylitis. Clinical Rheumatology.
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