Research psychologist Anthoula Lioni said: "Depression is common in people with arthritis, and arthritis patients are twice as likely to suffer from depression as members of the general population. In addition, previous research has indicated that depression and pain could impair cognitive performance, for example, performance on tasks that require attention and concentration."
The team, based at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Edinburgh, seeks 25 people over the age of 55, fluent in English, to take part in the study. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about their mood and carry out a short ability test. Information given to researchers will be kept confidential and only used for research purposes. Those interested in finding out more should contact Anthoula Lioni on 0131 537 6282 or email: anthoulalioni@yahoo.com