Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that brings physical and psychological turmoil to patients. Neuropsychiatric (NP) involvement in SLE also complicates disease management compared with non-NP SLE. The joint pain caused by the dysfunctional inflammatory response, as well as the negative mood induced by the disease have been found to predict the patients’ quality of life. The primary goal of this study is to examine the mediation effect of negative mood on the relationship between pain and quality of life in patients with SLE based on a biopsychosocial approach. Results revealed that negative mood partially mediated the relationship between pain and the physical aspect of quality of life. On the other hand, negative mood completely mediated the relationship between pain and psychological health. The mediation relationship lends support to the biopsychosocial perspective that physical distress, psychological state, and one’s adaptive functioning are closely related. The secondary goal of this study is to explore the effect of NP involvement in patients with SLE on self-report variables, including perceived pain intensity, negative mood, fatigue, sleep quality, perceived cognitive difficulties, and quality of life in comparison with patients with non-NP SLE as well as with healthy controls. / published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Lupus is a complex, poorly understood long-term disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues of any part of the body. The disease mainly affects young women of childbearing age. Studies from developed countries show that the condition affects individuals physically, emotionally and socially. However, nothing is known about how having lupus has affected individuals living with the condition in the African continent. I explored how lupus had affected individuals living with the condition in Kenya from the time individuals began to feel unwell. I interviewed three groups of participants. 10 individuals who attended the public rheumatology clinic, 11 individuals who attended a private rheumatology clinic and 6 doctors who worked in the rheumatology clinics. The study found that some individuals delayed in getting medical help for their lupus. It appears to take a long time for individuals to get their lupus diagnosed due to organisation and staffing of the Kenyan health system. It was also perceived by individuals with lupus that treatment for the condition was difficult to access and it was also costly. Some individuals believed that their lupus had a supernatural cause. Often there appeared to be a lack of understanding of lupus by individuals who suffered from the condition; and also by others, some having experienced disapproval or negative feelings from others. Individuals with lupus reported lacking the financial resources and social support to manage their condition better. Lupus was affecting them physically, emotionally and had an impact on their social lives. There are a number of challenges in living with lupus in Kenya, including individuals' and others perception of the condition, but also how healthcare is provided to these individuals.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

Wigging Out, a memoir, chronicles my first chemotherapy treatment which began in 2008 for the autoimmune disease Lupus. The primary focus is on how identity is affected by disability. Each symptom of my disease and side effect from my medications prompted a reevaluation of my identity as I felt a change both in myself and in the way others perceived me. In order to maintain a sense of control, I tried several techniques to pass and cover my disabled status, including the use of prosthetic hair pieces. Ultimately, the use of prosthetics made accepting my situation more difficult as it encouraged holding onto a former identity rather than creating a new one. It was not until I stopped using prosthetics as a form of denial and instead adopted them as part of a new identity that I was finally able to achieve the confidence necessary to fight for my life. / by Jeanette Moffa. / Thesis (M.F.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 201?. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.