Differences between arthritis patients' self-reported affective states and caregivers' perceptions of their affective states were assessed. Thirty hospitalized arthritis patients completed the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL) and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, a component of which measures denial, after which an interview assessment of their denial was made. Following this, a caregiver sample, 26 registered nurses who were familiar with at least one of the patient subjects, completed the MAACL as they believed the patient would. T tests revealed that caregivers were generally accurate in their assessment of the patients' affective states. These results are discussed in light of Wright's (1960, 1983) requirement of mourning. Further significant findings of interest were: The caregivers' attribution of anxiety was positively correlated with the patient's socioeconomic status; and, the higher the nursing educational level of the caregivers the more accurate their assessments.