{
  "abstract": "Introduction Data on regional differences in mental health support and management among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are lacking. We aimed to examine these differences to identify unmet need in SSc mental health care.Material and Methods Data were drawn from Adelphi Real World SSc Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of rheumatologists, internists, and their patients in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), Japan, and the United States (US) from March – September 2022. Physicians reported prevalence of mental health illnesses and types of support offered. Patients completed the EQ-5D-5L and reported support group use, and desire for additional support. Analyses were descriptive.Results Overall, 354 physicians (Europe, n=243; Japan, n=36; the US, n=75) reported data for 684 patients (Europe, n=493; Japan, n=40; the US, n=151) who self-reported data. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) patient age was 52.7 (13.1) years and 80% were female. Physicians estimated that a mean (SD) of 28% (22%) of patients in Europe, 7% (9%) in Japan, and 24% (25%) of patients in the US suffered from mental health illness due to SSc. A clinical diagnosis of anxiety was reported for 19% of patients in Europe and 21% in the US. Depression was reported for 14% and 20%, respectively. No patients in Japan were diagnosed with either. The proportion of patients self-reporting anxiety or depression (any severity) within the EQ-5D-5L domain was 60% in Europe, 32% in Japan, and 34% in the US. In total, 55% of physicians in Europe, 11% in Japan and 35% in the US routinely referred or offered psychological counselling to their patients. Overall, 47% of physicians in Europe, 11% in Japan and 43% in the US routinely recommended SSc support groups to their patients, with 27%, 72% and 29%, respectively, reporting not recommending any support resources. In Europe, 17% of patients self-reported involvement in an SSc support group, organisation, or forum. This was 15% in the US and none in Japan. Overall, 38% of patients in Europe, 38% in Japan and 30% in the US agreed (score >5 on a 1–10 agreement scale) that they wanted more support for their SSc and related conditions.Conclusions Notable regional patterns were observed in the recognition and management of mental health illness among patients with SSc, with no mental health diagnoses in Japan. These patterns may reflect underlying societal attitudes and healthcare practices, highlighting the need for region-specific, patient-centred care strategies in SSc.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Adelphi Real World, Manchester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Dan Twigg"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Adelphi Real World, Manchester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Isabel Truman"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Adelphi Real World, Manchester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Nicola Massey"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P.291 Regional differences in mental health burden and support in systemic sclerosis: patient and physician perspectives from a multinational real-world survey",
  "uid": "fabd7bd0-718b-5ea7-b3ec-005020058de8"
}