The specific aim of this study is to compare the rate of negative work role events in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis compared to healthy controls.

Rheumatoid arthritis can cause multiple socio-medical disabilities, with work disability among the most marked. While a major focus has been documenting the rates of job loss and returning patients to the workforce, there is little information about how to foster job retention in those still employed. The goals of this study are to document negative workplace events over 1 year in 122 employed patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and to compare these to 122 healthy controls, who are included to account for the effects of socioeconomic status on employment. Events will be recorded with the work domain of the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Life Events Scale. Additional goals are to compared fatigue, physical activity, functional status and sleep disturbances as covariates.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients are eligible if they are:

  • over age 18;
  • meet American Rheumatism Association criteria for rheumatoid arthritis; and
  • are employed for salary or monetary reimbursement.

• Controls are eligible if they are:

  • over age 18;
  • have no major comorbidity; and
  • are employed for salary or monetary reimbursement.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients and controls are excluded if they:

  • have cognitive deficits and cannot provide informed consent;
  • do not speak English or Spanish; or
  • their physicians do not grant permission to enroll them.