PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Hay, E M
AU  - Huddy, A
AU  - Black, D
AU  - Mbaya, P
AU  - Tomenson, B
AU  - Bernstein, R M
AU  - Lennox Holt, P J
AU  - Creed, F
TI  - A prospective study of psychiatric disorder and cognitive function in systemic lupus erythematosus.
AID  - 10.1136/ard.53.5.298
DP  - 1994 May 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 298--303
VI  - 53
IP  - 5
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/53/5/298.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/53/5/298.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis1994 May 01; 53
AB  - OBJECTIVES--To investigate change in psychiatric disorder and change in cognitive function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) assessed on two occasions two years apart. METHODS--A prospective cohort study of 49 patients with SLE using standardised psychiatric and clinical research methods. RESULTS--The point prevalence of psychiatric disorder (20% and 24%), and of cognitive impairment (23% and 18%), was similar at first and second interview for the whole group. There was, however, considerable change in individual patient's psychiatric status and cognitive function: only 1/9 patients with impairment on two or more cognitive tests at first interview was still impaired at second interview. Change in cognitive function appeared to mirror change in psychiatric status. CONCLUSIONS--These findings suggest that the previously reported high prevalence of cognitive impairment in SLE may be explained by coexisting psychiatric disorder, rather than reflecting subclinical central nervous system (CNS) involvement.