Your Health

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Arthritis: Does It Work?

Overview of Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term referring to a group of conditions that affect joints and connective tissues. Typical signs of these health issues include joint stiffness, tenderness, and pain due to inflammation. They tend to worsen with age. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the two most common forms of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joint cells, while osteoarthritis causes the hard, slippery tissue called cartilage to break down. Depending on the form of arthritis you have, many treatment options are available to help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life. [3]