From severe joint pain to fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis can impact many facets of daily life. “Couples with RA must deal with pain and physical limitations in one partner, [and] misdirected anger and frustration on both sides puts additional strain on the relationship,” says Philip Cohen, chief of rheumatology at Temple University Hospital. “RA patients are also more likely to become depressed, in part due to the central nervous system effects of the disease and in part due to their situation and chronic pain.