Understanding patient-provider discordance in adolescents with lupus: The role of pain and antidepressant medication use

The current study examines depression and pain as potential contributors to patient-provider discordance in the assessment of lupus disease activity. The study conducted a secondary analysis of data obtained from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance registry, with N = 859 adolescent participants. Assessments of pain, disease activity, and antidepressant medication use were collected from the patient and provider. Results indicated that depression might be underdiagnosed in pediatric lupus patients. While psychotropic medication and pain scores were independently related to greater patient-provider discordance regarding health status, pain mediated this relationship. Implications for treatment outcomes are discussed.