To determine whether pessimistic explanatory style altered the risk for and mortality of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The study included subjects from a population-based cohort with incident RA and a non-RA comparison cohort who completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.
Among 148 RA and 135 non-RA subjects, pessimism was associated with development of rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive RA. Pessimism was associated with an increased risk of mortality [HR 2.88 with similar magnitude to RF+ (HR 2.28)].
Pessimistic explanatory style was associated with an increased risk of developing RA and increased mortality rate in patients with RA.