Citation

January AM, Zebracki K, Chlan KM, Vogel LC. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2014; 95(3): 447-454.

Affiliation

Shriners Hospitals for Children, Chicago; Marquette University, Milwaukee.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.apmr.2013.11.011

PMID

24316327

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in adults with pediatric onset SCI and explore potential risk factors that may be associated with elevated symptoms. DESIGN: Longitudinal, cohort survey over 2-9 year period. Follow-up occurred approximately every year, a total of 868 interviews were conducted, and a majority of participants contributed to at least 3 waves of data (72%; Range 2-8; M=4.34, SD=2.16). SETTING: Community PARTICIPANTS: Participants included 214 adults (133 males; mean age at first interview 29.52, SD 5.21; range 24-42) who sustained a SCI prior to age 19 (mean age at injury 13.93, SD 4.37; range 0-18y). Participants tended to have complete injuries (71%) and tetraplegia (58%). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants completed measures assessing psychosocial functioning, physical independence, participation, and depression at each time point. Multi-level growth modeling analyses were utilized to explore depression symptoms across time. RESULTS: Depression symptoms at initial status were typically minimal (M=3.07; SE=.24; 95% CI 2.60-3.54) but fluctuated significantly over time (p<.01). Several factors emerged as significant predictors of depressive symptoms in the final model, including less community participation (p<.01), incomplete injury (p=.02), hazardous drinking (p=.02), bladder incontinence (p=.01), and pain (p=.03). Within individuals, as bowel accidents (p<.01) and pain increased (p<.01), depression scores increased; whereas marriage resulted in decreases in depression scores for individuals (p=.02). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the majority of patients with pediatric-onset SCI are psychologically resilient, but that strategies to minimize secondary health complications and foster community participation and engagement should be considered.

Language: en