Physical disability and psychosocial dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus.

One hundred six ambulatory outpatients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) seen during 1985 completed the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS). Mean HAQ disability, pain and global assessment scores were 0.66, 0.81 and 29.4, respectively, indicating a mild amount of impairment. Significant correlations were observed between increased disability, increased pain and worse global assessment, and poor psychosocial adjustment across all domains of the PAIS. Our data suggest that functional and psychosocial impairment are present in patients with SLE; the use of such measures as outcomes in longitudinal studies is discussed.