Digital Psychological Intervention Improves Mental Health in Patients With Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases
A randomized clinical trial conducted across Germany has demonstrated that a self-guided digital psychological intervention significantly reduced psychological distress and improved quality of life in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs), including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
The study included 102 adults (mean age 47.2 years; 90.2% female) who reported both psychological distress and reduced quality of life. Participants were randomized to either a digital intervention group (n=52) or a treatment-as-usual control group (n=50), with outcomes assessed at 3 months.
Patients in the intervention group showed greater reductions in psychological distress compared with controls (least-squares mean difference, −3.60; 95% CI, −5.73 to −1.47; P < .001; Cohen d = −0.71). Improvements were also seen in quality of life, with a statistically significant difference favoring the intervention (least-squares mean difference, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.00–0.09; P = .047; Cohen d = 0.49).
“A significantly greater number of participants in the intervention group experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in psychological distress (59.2% vs 34.0%; P = .02) and quality of life (55.1% vs 32.0%; P = .03),” the authors reported.
Secondary outcomes—such as self-efficacy, health literacy, perceived stress, depression, and anxiety—also improved in the intervention group, with the exception of functional impairment. No adverse events were associated with the digital tool.
“This pilot randomized clinical trial supports the effectiveness and safety of a digital psychological intervention in individuals with IRDs,” the authors concluded.
For rheumatologists, the findings suggest that digital mental health tools may serve as accessible, scalable adjuncts to traditional care, addressing the unmet psychological needs often seen in this patient population.
Reference
Knitza J, Kraus J, Krusche M, et al. Digital psychological intervention for inflammatory rheumatic diseases: a pilot randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(9):e2529892. Published online September 2, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.29892
