Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

HEALTH PROBLEM: Arthritis is a very painful condition that affects almost 1 million Canadians. Aside from physical pain and disability arthritis also affects mental health. Specifically, those with arthritis experience more depression and anxiety compared to those without arthritis. However, it is unclear how long until the onset of depression and anxiety occurs after being diagnosed with arthritis. It is also unclear how depression and anxiety are treated among patients with arthritis. RESEARCH PLAN: This project will use an already available arthritis database from a CIHR Team Grant on Health Challenges in Chronic Inflammation that is currently studying complications of arthritis in British Columbia (BC). This arthritis database was created through linking all health data for the entire population of BC (~4.7 million residents) from 2000 to 2014. I will first calculate new and existing cases of anxiety and depression among patients with arthritis. Next, I will evaluate the treatment process as well as the factors that influence treatment for all new cases of depression and anxiety. This involves analysis of prescribed drugs (antidepressant/anti-anxiety) as well as non-drug therapy (counseling and psychotherapy sessions). IMPORTANCE: By understanding the impact of mental health in patients with arthritis and how it is treated, my study will identify current gaps in care. This will allow opportunities to improve delivery of care for mental health in patients with arthritis.