Arthritis Today - Winter 2006

Issue 131

Mind over matter?

Edzard Ernst, one of the UK's leading experts on complementary medicine offers his opinion on the phenomenon that is the placebo effect.

Spotlight on science

Dr Krysia Dziedzic and Professor Yuti Chernajovsky explain their work in an ongoing series of articles in which arc -funded researchers explain their work.

Lack of diagnosis and the unavailability of anti-TNF therapies are two major issues facing ankylosing spondylitis sufferers. A special report for Arthritis Today coincides with arc 's awareness week on AS (January 3-8 2006) which aims to highlight these difficulties.

Ankylosing spondylitis case study

When Richard Bridgeman was 37, he felt more like 97. The once fit, active electronics engineer was reduced to spending his days in bed, wracked with the pain and fatigue of ankylosing spondylitis, missing out on his children growing up, a shadow of the man he once was. Getting onto anti-TNF therapy has changed all that, but, he told Arthritis Today, others are not so lucky.

Scottish capital gains

With a new arc Chair of Rheumatology and an investment of almost £3m, arthritis research in Scotland 's capital city is in its healthiest state in years. Jane Tadman reports.

Virtual support for rheumatoid arthritis patients

Newly diagnosed RA patients now have a "24-hour support group" available to them – on the Internet. Jane Tadman reports.