Cognitive–behavioral therapy: a psychoeducational treatment approach for the American worker with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disorder affecting nearly 2.1 million Americans. This condition often leads to chronic pain, inflammation, joint destruction, feelings of helplessness, maladaptive coping, depression and activity limitations. For those individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic arthritic pain, the role of the worker has become difficult to maintain. Research suggests that cognitive–behavioral intervention reduces chronic arthritic pain, decreases disease activity and improves coping skills in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. To be effective, cognitive–behavioral techniques must be practiced on a regular basis. The literature suggests that the American worker with rheumatoid arthritis would greatly benefit from work-site wellness programs that provide cognitive–behavioral intervention as a ‘reasonable accommodation’. Occupational therapy practitioners can help to advance the positive effects of this psychoeducational intervention by providing ‘booster treatments’ to clients after formal treatment sessions have ceased.