OBJECTIVES: To utilize WebTV technology to assess the effect of coexistence of depressive symptomatology on the health status of arthritic individuals, in a nationally representative elderly sample. METHODS: Depression in arthritic individuals was measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CESD-20). Health related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using Short Form 36 (SF-36) scale. Random Digit Dialing (RDD) survey procedures were used to recruit individuals having different types of arthritis, but having no previously diagnosed depression (N=550), drawn from US households across 44 states. Each participating household was outfitted with a free WebTV and Internet connection. Cut-off score of = 16 was used on the CESD-20 scale to identify arthritic persons at risk for clinical depression. CESD-20 and dimension scores such as Negative Affect (NA), Positive Affect (PA), Somatic Symptoms (SS), Interpersonal Problems (IP), Mental Health (MH), Physical and Mental component Summary scores (PCS and MCS) were computed. Conceptually relevant associations between CESD-20 and SF-36 subscales were determined. RESULTS: A response rate of 87% (N=480) was achieved following the administration of surveys in August 2001. Using CESD scores, 16% (n=76) of the respondents were found to be at risk for clinical depression. Significant negative correlations between SS and PCS scores (r=-0.416, P=0.000), and between CESD and MH scores (r=-0.68, P=0.000) were found. No significant differences on the CESD, SS, PCS, MCS scores were found across different arthritic types, races, and gender. However, differences on all these measures were significant (P<0.05) for the elderly categorized into different subgroups based on age. CONCLUSION: Concurrent administration of SF-36 and CESD-20 in patients with a chronic disease is recommended for the measurement of depressive symptomatology and health status. Preliminary examination of associations among crucial study variables suggests that CESD somatic items may actually somewhat elevate the depression symptom scores in arthritis.