Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and debilitating disease, For the majority of patients, pain in OA is episodic in nature.

The experience of pain is generated or modified by nociception, neuropathic symptoms, psychological and personality factors, genetic influences, past painful experiences, comorbid conditions, and expectations related to future pain Previous studies have shown psychological well-being has been significantly associated with disability in patients with OA, and anxiety has been found to be associated with knee pain in women.

Previous studies also found that there are large interindividual differences among persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA) with respect to psychological function.

Psychological strengths and weaknesses are evaluated among new patient with osteoarthritis presented to joint replacement clinic, to facilitate our understanding of those patients need, and correlating with their radiological and clinical findings. Psychological strengths and weaknesses, positive and negative affects are evaluated in form of questionaires.

Reference:

Adaptation to disability: Applying selective optimization with compensation to the behaviors of older adults with osteoarthritis.

MAM Gignac, C Cott, EM Badley - Psychology and aging, 2002

Analgesic effects of multisensory illusions in osteoarthritis C Preston, R Newport - Rheumatology, 2011

Psychological factors and their relation to osteoarthritis pain BL Wise, J Niu, Y Zhang, N Wang, JM Jordan… - Osteoarthritis Cartilage. , 2010 - Elsevier

Introduction:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent painful condition that may cause disability among older adults (Cruz-Almeida et al., 2013). Psychological traits and emotional states of patients were found to be correlated with symptoms of OA and daily functioning of patients (Cruz-Almeida et al., 2013; Dezutter et al., 2015).

The experience of pain is generated or modified by nociception, neuropathic symptoms, psychological and personality factors, genetic influences, past painful experiences, comorbid conditions, and expectations related to future pain. Previous studies have shown psychological well-being has been significantly associated with disability in patients with OA, and anxiety has been found to be associated with knee pain in women.

Previous studies also found that there are large interindividual differences among persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA) with respect to psychological function.

Aim of project:

This research is trying to find out what psychological strengths or factors could attenuate the chronic pain of knee OA patients. The purpose of the study is to find psychological evidences that may be used in the future to help chronic pain patients for improving their daily functioning and well-being.

Inclusion Criteria:

• all new patient present to AHNH clinic referred for osteoarthritis for considering joint replacement
• Present with knee pain (unilateral or bilateral) contributed by osteoarthritis

Exclusion Criteria:

• mentally unsound
• dialectic speaker that difficult to communicate

150 patients, based on previous studies (Psychological Profiles and Pain Characteristics of Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis; Psychological factors and their relation to osteoarthritis pain) and the number of patients and study time available in our clinic

Those are all the new patient present to AHNH clinic referred for osteoarthritis for considering joint replacement