Background:The literature about the impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) on mental health is mostly focused on depression and anxiety. Yet, patients can experience stress without depressed mood or anxiety.Objectives:To examine the impact of RA on psychological stress excluding depression and anxiety focusing on 3 questions: 1) What is the stress level of RA patients compared to a control group? 2) Which types of stress do RA patients experience? 3) Which are risk factors to develop stress as an RA patient?Methods:Four scientific databases, EMBASE, PubMed (including MEDLINE), Web of Science Core Collection and Cochrane Library, were systematically searched from inception until 19/04/2020. Eligible studies included psychological stress in RA patients as outcome. Two reviewers (CV&AVB) independently screened titles and abstracts, and later full texts for eligibility. Full-text screening excluded studies without a separate RA population, with a focus on only anxiety and/or depression or not answering at least 1/3 research questions. Quality was appraised by MINORS/AXIS tools.Results:From 11 115 potentially relevant studies, 16 studies met the inclusion criteria (Table 1). Remarkably, 13 different stress measurement instruments were picked-up in this review. Work stress and interpersonal stress seem more prevalent in RA patients compared to healthy controls. Stress at disease onset was more prevalent in RA compared to osteoarthritis. Psychological stress was higher in patients with chronic pain compared to RA. Role stress, social stress and work stress were induced by RA. More disability, more pain, less social support, lower income, younger age and personality factors like excessive worrying, pessimism, and sensitivity to anxiety, seem to increase the risk for increased stress levels.Table 1.Included StudiesFirst AuthorYearCountryPopulationAgeMean ±SDStress InstrumentQuality AssessmentBugajska2010PolandN=437 PolishN=137 German>50y (71%)>50y (38%)SF36v2AXIS: 16/20Coty2017USAN=8054y ±12yRCQWAXIS: 17/20Cunha2016PortugalN=8058yDASS-21AXIS: 10/20Goulia2015GreeceN=16855y ±13ySCL-90RMINORS: 11/16Latman1996USARA, N=128OA, N=7956y63ySRRSAXIS: 20/20Mancuso2006USARA, N=122HC, N=12249y ±12y49y ±12yDUSOCSMINORS: 20/24Nyklicek2015The NetherlandsN=20157y ±12yPSSMINORS: 13/16Persson2005SwedenN=15852ySCL-90RMINORS: 12/16Rahim2018MalaysiaN=18952y ±11yDASS-21AXIS: 17/20Rice2017CanadaRA, N=226CP, N=22958y ±15y45y ±12yDASS-21AXIS: 17/20Rice2016CanadaRA, N=163CP, N=16756y ±13y45y ±11yDASS-21AXIS: 18/20Richter2018GermanyRA, N=163HC, N=16748y ±10y43y ±10yERIAXIS: 17/20Smith2002USARA, N=93OA, N=82HC, N=80RA, 62yOA, 65yHC, 62y1 question probing stressMINORS: 17/24Treharne2007UKN=13455yPSSMINORS: 11/16Turner-Cobb1998UKRA, N=13CP, N=2442y ±8y39y ±4yLEI/HUSMINORS: 17/24Zautra1997USAN=4155y ±10yISLEMINORS: 12/16Conclusion:This scoping review is to our knowledge the first to address the heterogeneity of measurement tools and definitions of stress in RA research. It provides the basis for further research, which is needed to predict different stress trajectories and respond to these with patient-centered interventions.Disclosure of Interests:None declared