Background and aims This document presents the results of a study performed to assess the Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL), emotionality and day-to-day problem solving and coping in lupus patients, compared to a control sample. This research is intended to analyse how symptoms affect to patients and what is the level of impairment associated to the disease perceived by them.

Methods The assessment was carried out by examining 35 lupus-diagnosed patients living in Madrid. Three questionnaires were used: SF-36 for measuring HRQOL, PANAS for quantifying positive and negative affect, ISAP for analysing problem solving and coping; additionally, a structured interview (LUPAM) to evaluate pain level and perceived level of impairment.

Results Main results found were that HRQOL level in lupus patients is lower than the average population, finding out differences also in the “past week Negative Affect” dimension. Nevertheless, statistically significant discrepancies between patient and control samples regarding to Problem Solving and Coping were not found.

Conclusions The study proves that patients perceive lupus and lupus-related disability in a worse manner depending on the disease phase, while there are some possible solutions to improve this perception such as the development of chronical pain programs.