Mental Health Issues Among Online Game Addicts at Smpn 2 Dolopo, Dolopo District, Madiun Regency

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by recurrent synovial inflammation, leading to joint damage, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life. High disease activity is often accompanied by psychological problems, particularly anxiety and depression. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between disease activity levels based on the Disease Activity Score 28–C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) and symptoms of anxiety and depression assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in RA patients at Royal Prima Hospital in Medan. Method: The study used an observational analytical design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 58 RA patients were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through DAS28-CRP examinations and HADS questionnaires, then analyzed using Spearman's correlation test. Results: Of the 58 respondents, most were female (91.4%) with the highest disease activity distribution in the high category (41.4%). The majority of respondents showed normal anxiety levels (81.0%) and normal depression (82.8%). Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between disease activity and anxiety (r = 0.304; p = 0.020), while no significant relationship was found with depression (r = 0.246; p = 0.062). Conclusion: Disease activity in AR affects patients' anxiety levels but is not proven to be associated with depression. These results emphasize the importance of considering psychological aspects in the comprehensive management of AR patients.