Relationships among organ damage, social support, and depression in African American women with systemic lupus erythematosus

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: J Jordan, Emory University; Nancy Thompson, Emory University; C Dunlop-Thomas, Emory University; Sung Lim, Emory University; Cristina Drenkard, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-02-01
• Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2018.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0961203318815573
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Lupus
• ISSN: 0961-2033
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 253
• End Page: 260
• Grant/Funding Information: The GOAL Cohort is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Grant 1U01DP005119.
• Keywords: systemic lupus erythematosus; Rheumatology; ANXIETY DISORDERS; lupus; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; DISPARITY; Science & Technology; PHQ-9; organ damage; PREVALENCE; African American; SEVERITY; depression; VERSION; social support; SAMPLE
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Psychology, Clinical

Abstract

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disproportionately strikes African American women. Social support can potentially reduce disease impact. The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between organ damage and depression in African American women and how social support influences this relationship. Methods: We used a mixed methods design, analyzing self-reported data on lupus-related organ damage, depression, and social support in 437 African American women with SLE recruited in the Georgians Organized Against Lupus (GOAL) cohort. Moreover, we conducted interviews among 15 GOAL participants to gather patients' perspectives about the role of social support in people who live with lupus. Results: We found a significant association between organ damage and depression (r = 0.163, p = 0.001), as well as between depression and social support (F = 17.574, p < 0.001). The quantitative analysis did not render social support as a significant moderator in the organ damage–depression relationship. Interviews, however, revealed that African American women with the most severe organ damage have the greatest need for support. Conclusions: Social support is a key resource for lupus patients with high disease burden. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of monitoring depressive symptoms in this population and developing interventions aimed to increase social support available to lupus patients.