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Mental Health Problems in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Patients - An Umbrella Systematic Review
Sathish Muthu1,2, Vibhu Krishnan Viswanathan1,3, Balasubramaniyan Palani4
1Department of Spine Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Group, Coimbatore, India.
Global Spine Journal
|December 8, 2025
Summary
Mental health conditions like depression and PTSD are common after traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). More research and targeted interventions are needed to support tSCI patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) significantly impacts mental health.
- Prevalence, correlates, and outcomes of mental illnesses in tSCI populations require comprehensive synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To qualitatively synthesize existing systematic reviews on mental health in tSCI.
- To identify the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and SUD in tSCI.
Main Methods:
- Umbrella systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
- Included 20 systematic reviews published between 2005 and 2025.
- Appraised methodological quality using AMSTAR 2.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of mental health conditions: depression (up to 43%), anxiety (27%), PTSD (up to 62%), hazardous alcohol use (≥50%).
- Key risk factors include pain, injury severity, low social support, and maladaptive coping.
- Limited evidence for effective interventions and inconsistent use of standardized assessment tools.
Conclusions:
- Mental health conditions represent a substantial burden in the tSCI population.
- There is a critical need for standardized assessment, longitudinal studies, and evidence-based interventions.
- Addressing these under-recognized mental health needs is crucial for comprehensive tSCI care.
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