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Relationship between perceived stress and sarcoidosis in a Dutch patient population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM
A relationship between stress and sarcoidosis has been considered. However, studies concerning perceived stress, appraisal of life events, are scarce in sarcoidosis patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to further examine the role of perceived stress in sarcoidosis.


METHODS
Members of the Dutch Sarcoidosis Society (n = 1046; 59.0% females; the age range 40-49 contained the most persons) completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a symptom inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS).


RESULTS
The PSS score of sarcoidosis patients was high (p < 0.001), especially those of females (p < 0.001). Moreover, patients with psychological problems had higher PSS scores (p < 0.001). Notably, the presence of psychological problems and gender appeared to be unrelated. Furthermore, perceived stress was related to the BDI (r = 0.67, p < 0.001), especially to the cognitive subscale (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, to the physical depression subscale (r = 0.42, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Perceived stress was found to be high and related to symptoms in sarcoidosis. Moreover, depressive symptoms appeared to be related to perceived stress. Therefore, the management of sarcoidosis should include coping and appraisal therapy aiming to reduce stress and depressive symptoms.