Depression and Social Support Among Hospitalized Patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Prospective Cohort...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Trauma Care

Background:

• Traumatic spinal injuries (TSI) present significant physical and psychological challenges.
• Early identification of depression is vital for enhancing recovery and quality of life.
• Limited longitudinal data exists on depression in TSI patients within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence and trajectory of depressive symptoms in patients with traumatic spinal injuries over a three-month period.
• To assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms at two weeks and three months post-trauma.
• To understand the relationship between social support and depressive symptoms in this population.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving 189 patients with traumatic spinal injuries admitted between 2019 and 2022.
• Assessment of depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at two weeks and three months post-trauma.
• Evaluation of perceived social support using the RAND Social Support Survey.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients were young, with falls and motor vehicle crashes being common injury mechanisms.
• At two weeks post-trauma, 39.1% of patients screened positive for depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 5).
• By three months, the proportion decreased to 19.5%, with a mean PHQ-9 score reduction from 4.6 to 2.5.

Conclusions:

• Patients with traumatic spinal injuries experience significant psychological distress early in recovery.
• While depressive symptoms tend to decrease over three months, a notable percentage still screen positive.
• Continuous psychological screening and support are essential for comprehensive traumatic spinal injury management.