Oxytocin and Depression in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Depression is the most common complication reported in about 15% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Oxytocin, known as the “Happy Hormone,” has been associated with various psychiatric disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, autism, eating disorders, developmental disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder ; few reports associate it with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, no factor has reportedly been related to serum oxytocin concentration. Serum oxytocin levels may be affected by problems with the measurement system, therapeutic agents, and the disease itself. Clinical application to depression in rheumatoid arthritis requires careful judgment.