Note: This column discusses depression. Resources for help are listed at the end of the column. Can I tell you a secret? I had a mini-panic attack when I started writing this column about my journey with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It was the middle of the night and I…

Engaging in online yoga classes, or tele-yoga, may help people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) relieve pain, overcome some functional limitations, and improve their mental health, a study from India suggests. The study, “Tele-yoga in the management of ankylosing spondylitis amidst COVID pandemic: A prospective randomized controlled trial,” was…

The first wave of COVID-19 in Europe severely disrupted access to care and raised stress and anxiety in people with rare diseases, negatively affecting their health and well-being, according to a survey conducted by Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. “People living with rare diseases in Europe have found themselves caught as collateral…

People with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) often endure considerable psychological distress — including depression, anxiety, and stress — that is related to their experience of pain, a study shows. These findings highlight a need for more mental health resources for people with this disorder, the researchers said. The study, “…

Poor mental health, not having a full-time job, spending fewer years in school, and having comorbidities such as hypertension or diabetes all contribute to failure to respond to initial treatment with TNF-alpha inhibitors among people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), according to a real-world study. The study, “Predicting…

Depression is more common among people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) than in the general population, with about a third of patients experiencing depressive symptoms, a meta-analysis reveals. The study, “Prevalence of Depression in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” was published in the…

Self-harm is more common in people diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis compared with the general population, a study reveals, suggesting the need for better mental health monitoring and support for patients after such a diagnosis. The data were presented at the 2018 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) in a…

There are many great things about social media. It connects people who would never otherwise meet or talk, creates shared experiences, and can be used as a tool for support and empathy. On social media, the great “we” can be parsed into parts; suddenly the faceless many with ankylosing spondylitis…

People with ankylosing spondylitis have diminished health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to the general population, a Swedish study shows. The study, “Factors related to health-related quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis, overall and stratified by sex,” was published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Life with ankylosing spondylitis is full of ups and downs influenced by good days and bad days, endless fatigue, doctor’s appointments, and the general trickiness of managing a chronic illness with life’s other demands. The unpredictable nature of fatigue accounts for missed days at work and canceled social gatherings. There’s…