Mental Health

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The Power of Self-Management with Chronic Low Back Pain

EurekAlert!

Almost everyone will deal with back pain at some point in their lives. Most recover quickly — but for about 20% of people, acute pain becomes a chronic condition that interferes with daily life and keeps them out of the workforce

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Spotlight on Comorbidities from EULAR 2026

EurekAlert!

Systemic autoimmune diseases are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality – possibly through autonomic imbalance, myocardial inflammation, or fibrotic infiltration of the conduction system. A team in Colombia have been looking into the

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Self-Directed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain Is self-directed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) when augmented with asynchronous, personalized feedback for chronic pain (CBT-CP) superior to clinician-delivered CBT-CP? https://t.co/P2DDvCiLNL https://t.co/hyAArEG6V1

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Generic Tofacitinib (6.26.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from RheumNow.com. Updates on tofacitinib, CAR-T therapy and AI.

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U Maryland study found that 5-minutes of proximal intercessory prayer (PIP) — in-person prayer offered by a trained volunteer — significantly reduced pain and anxiety in primary care patients compared to a music control group. 180 pain pts (pain >4/10) w/ > 2 pt reductions at 2 & https://t.co/k4JiQvyC31
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Self-Directed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain

Jack Cush, MD

Is self-directed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) when augmented with asynchronous, personalized feedback for chronic pain (CBT-CP) superior to clinician-delivered CBT-CP?

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back, LBP, spine, AS

JAMA Review on Low Back Pain

Jack Cush, MD

A comprehensive JAMA review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, and treatment of nonspecific low back pain, drawing on 108 publications identified from a PubMed search (2005–2026) and the most recent guidelines from the WHO, ACP, and NICE.

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US telehealth utilization rose 10.1% in 1st quarter of 2026 (5% to 5.51% medical claims). Most use in mental health conditions (52%) w/ joint/soft tissue dz at 3% overall, higher in west & NE states. 57% for outpt visits, only 7.7% for new visits. 35% for psychotherapy services. https://t.co/L8c7p3iQPL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#OP0159 #EULAR2026 Multimodal study in D2T RA identified altered brain connectivity patterns linked to pain, psychological features & peripheral transcriptomics. Supports neuroimmune component in D2T RA & need for personalised approaches beyond inflammation control. @RheumNow https://t.co/qMQbkiMCwX

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Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey( View Tweet )
Depression at RA diagnosis did not predict short-term CV events in a nationwide early RA cohort -17,669 early RA pts -7.3% BL depression -Median follow-up 1.2 years -No association w/ CV hospitalisation after adjustment (sHR 1.05) Reassuring short-term data, longer follow-up https://t.co/XmMVGY1VlI

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Using AI to integrate EHR, SDOH , psychological data - can help finding psychosocial risk factors. Complex cases can be diagnosed using solutions (iceberg health) like this. #EULAR2026 @rheumnow https://t.co/t4keRbpkrx

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Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
#EULAR2026 OP0220 How can we improve physical function of #SLE patients? Cross-sectional study of 2 US cohorts: poor physical function was associated with Fatigue, depression, learned helplessness and perceived stress. We should focus on improving fatigue & wellbeing @RheumNow https://t.co/vAFqYyuzgN

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Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
🔍 Do posterior element lesions progress over 10 years in axSpA? Data from the DESIR inception cohort (n=320) says RARELY! But baseline PE inflammation raises facet ankylosis risk ~70-fold #POS0189 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/PdwlPGjKqK

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Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
D2T RA shows a linked brain–psychology–immune signature Cohort D2T RA vs non-D2T RA vs HC 91% D2T RA Higher catastrophizing Higher pain sensitivity More emotion-focused coping strategies “Chronic pain-like” profile Associated with higher CNS related gene expression NRG1 https://t.co/nkQco73vqI

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Sad to see this but important to be aware. Increasing risk of suicide using colchicine in Familial Mediterranean Fever. #POS0768 #EULAR2026 @rheumnow. Average age 28! 87%female, only 7 % with psychiatric referral! Retrospective 15 pts. https://t.co/241SE6O395

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Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
RA comorbidities are changing. ILD, anxiety, depression increasing. Less extraartic. manifestations, CA & CV dz. Consider screening for cervical CA, ILD, CV dz & OP (for pts on steroids) https://t.co/WVITFXNva7 https://t.co/tggdaO9RJB

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Integrating D2T into T2T Practices in RA Researchers at Semmelweis University analyzed how depression, smoking, obesity, sleep disorders, and other health problems are linked to difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T-RA) and how this can inform treat-to-target (T2T) and https://t.co/buCXeK2jNS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Integrating D2T into T2T Practices in RA

EurekAlert!

Researchers at Semmelweis University analyzed how depression, smoking, obesity, sleep disorders, and other health problems are linked to difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T-RA) and how this can inform treat-to-target (T2T) and individualized therapy.

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"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." - Mark Twain https://t.co/xyJqiV7biI
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Depression screening (PHQ-8) equally accurate in pts w/ & w/o chronic pain. Depression screening is not biased by overlapping symptoms in depression and chronic pain. https://t.co/UWf97NDPAK https://t.co/7dvt35RT9E

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
"Everything will be alright in the end; and if its not alright, then its not yet the end" – Suni Kapoor Best exotic Marigold Hotel https://t.co/Yua7t4yoZe
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Influential Rheumatoid Factors (5.8.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com

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Nurses - the calm through chaos Nurses are a unique breed. When they appear, it’s always a blessing. But who goes into nursing? What kind of person choose nursing over doctoring? https://t.co/smUWg06nVh https://t.co/swQYJ3NfZF

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
More Comorbidity in Difficult-to-Treat RA A systematic review demonstrated that smoking, obesity, fibromyalgia, and depression are significantly associated with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T-RA). https://t.co/guMm6mqJGr https://t.co/xiykw5tBlJ

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Do patients with chronic pain have double the rates of smoking compared to those without pain? Take this week's RheumIQ quiz to find out. https://t.co/rmB55KC7Zh https://t.co/ms3G9uBMd5

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Recent Blogs

Choice Overload (and the Way Out)

Jack Cush, MD
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I recently overheard a very good practicing rheumatologist complain, “why do I need yet another drug for psoriatic arthritis? I have more treatment choices than I have actual PsA patients who need a new or better drug”.
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Comorbidities in RA: Focus on Difficult-to-Treat Disease

Elena Nikiphorou, MD, PhD
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The presence of comorbidities naturally complicates treatment choice, patient adherence to medication and patient outcomes, increasing also the risk of making RA ‘difficult-to-treat’.
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Infections Rheums Should Worry About

Cassandra Calabrese, DO
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With the increasing development and use of new biologics and oral targeted therapies to treat RA and other immune mediated inflammatory diseases, an awareness of infection risk and prevention has become of increasing interest as well. While our patients may be susceptible to many different types of infections depending on immunosuppressive regimen, age and co-morbidities, I’ll highlight a few of the “usual suspects”.
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Podcasts

  • EULAR 2026 Daily Podcast Day 2a
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