Drinking has been shown to be a protective factor against the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). On the other hand, high prevalence of depressive symptoms has been observed among RA patients.

To evaluate the association between depressive symptoms and somatic factors as well as drinking habits in RA patients.

Drinking habits and physical symptoms in 182 female RA outpatients in Ivanovo, Russia (average [standard deviation] of age, 62.0 [11.7] years), were investigated. Drinking status was classified as current drinkers (alcohol consumption within the previous 12months) and others. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with MINI, HADS and CES-D questionnaires. Outcomes were (a) presence or history of major depressive disorder, presence of melancholic major depressive disorder, presence of dysthymia, or 1 point or greater of suicidal risk score in MINI, (b) 8 points or greater in HADS-depression, (c) 8 points or greater in HADS-anxiety, and (d) 16 points or greater in CES-D. Stepwise logistic regression was used to evaluate somatic factors associated with depressive symptoms, with age and drinking status included.

Drinking was rather protective against depression, but did not reach statistical significance. Symptomatic parts in the extremities associated with the outcomes were shoulders for MINI, elbows and knees for HADS-depression, shoulders for HADS-anxiety, and hands, elbows and shoulders for CES-D. In the stepwise selection, some symptoms in the extremities were positively associated with the outcomes.

Symptoms chiefly in large joints contributed to depressive symptoms.