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Study Design:
In this study women
will be assigned to one of two groups: (1) usual medical care or
(2) usual medical care plus participation in a Support Group. Given
that it is unknown whether this intervention will be helpful for women,
at this time it is necessary to randomly assign patients to one of these
two groups. Prior to group assignment, the study coordinator will
contact, by phone, interested women to determine their eligibility for
participation and answer any questions. Those patients assigned to
the Support Group will participate in 15 Support Group sessions.
Each session, led by a staff Psychologist, will last 90 minutes.
They will be weekly for the first three months and once a month for the
following three months. The groups are intended to be supportive
and discussions will focus on the problems women encounter in dealing with
their illness and will provide strategies to cope better with lupus.
The women who are assigned to the usual medical care group, will be followed
in the clinic at their usual visits, but will be asked to complete two
questionnaire on two occasions over one year. The women assigned
to the Support Group will also be seen as usual in the clinic and complete
the same questionnaires.