Table 3 Explanatory factors for the longitudinal course of depression.

	AIMS depression (0–10)		GHQ depression (0–21)
	Beta (SE Beta)	p‐value	Beta (SE Beta)	p‐value
Anxiety (AIMS or GHQ, units)	0.65 (0.02)	<0.0001	0.46 (0.02)	<0.0001
Grip strength (kg)	−0.008 (0.004)	0.04	−0.04 (0.01)	0.0002
ESR (mm/h)	0.005 (0.002)	0.02		NS
Age (years)	0.01 (0.003)	0.0003	0.04 (0.01)	<0.0001
Sex (female vs. male)		NS	0.65 (0.35)	0.06
Rheumatoid factor (RF+ versus RF−)		NS	0.75 (0.28)	0.001

The results after repeated measures analyses using a mixed model approach adjusted for disease duration. Modified Sharp score and AIMS pain, although in the initial model, were not statistically significant.