A controlled study of group counseling in rheumatoid arthritis.

Group counseling and education were studied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients were matched and randomly assigned to a control (CG) or experimental (EG) group. Each group attended an educational session but only the EG participated in 12 weekly group counseling sessions. A test of knowledge about RA and psychological tests were administered before and after these sessions. The EG improved their scores in 2 areas of self-concept and in factual knowledge. There was no increase in depression level. These results provide evidence that formal educational sessions and group counseling may be important in the management of patients with RA.