Chronic Pain and Depression in Low Back (Spinal) Injured Patients

摘要

Depression caused by physical dysfunction and associated symptoms as the aftermath of the low back (spinal) injury is commonly undiagnosed and untreated. In this paper, based on our clinical experience, we have described a relation between depression and lumbosacral injury. In our research, we selected 54 (26 female and 28 male) patients in two different groups: (1) those whose low back injury occurred less than 12 months before research commenced; and (2) those whose injuries occurred more than 12 months before the research (their condition has been considered as a chronic). All of the patients (n=54) were assessed by using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) in order to evaluate their level of depression. The results show that low back (spinal) injured patients suffered depression due to their body discomfort and changed day-to-day capacities. Those who sustained injury more than one year developed an upper level of a moderate depression. However, if not taking any treatment following their psychological disturbances, the patients had suffered a severe depression. Their level of depression increases with a chronicity of the physical pain making also depression as a chronic disorder.