Prevalence of depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances in patients with myelopathy: Their relation with functional and neurological recovery

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2016 · DOI: 10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000284 · Published: November 1, 2016

Spinal Cord Injury Mental Health Neurorehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study looks at how common depression, fatigue, and sleep problems are in people with myelopathy (a spinal cord disorder). It also investigates if these issues are linked to how well people recover their physical abilities and nervous system function. The researchers found that many patients experienced depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances upon admission to a neurorehabilitation unit. While functional status improved during their stay, the improvement didn't always directly correlate with neurological recovery or changes in sleep. The study suggests that addressing depression and fatigue could help improve functional outcomes for myelopathy patients. It highlights the complex interplay between physical and psychological well-being in recovery.

Study Duration

January 2010 and December 2013

Participants

127 patients with myelopathy (92 males)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
A significant percentage of patients with myelopathy experienced depression (42%), fatigue (33%), and sleep disturbances (58%) upon admission.
2
Improvements in fatigue and depression scores were significantly correlated with improvements in functional status scores.
3
There was no significant correlation between changes in sleep disturbance scores and functional status score and neurological recovery.

Research Summary

The study investigated the prevalence of depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances in myelopathy patients and their correlation with neurological and functional recovery during inpatient rehabilitation. The results showed significant improvement in functional status, fatigue, depression, and sleep quality from admission to discharge. However, neurological recovery did not significantly correlate with improvements in fatigue, depression, or sleep disturbances. The study concludes that while improvement in fatigue and depression correlated with functional improvement, these variables did not necessarily correlate with neurological recovery. The study also suggests a significant correlation between improvements in fatigue, sleep, and depression.

Practical Implications

Integrated Rehabilitation

Comprehensive rehabilitation programs for myelopathy patients should address not only physical impairments but also psychological factors like depression and fatigue to optimize functional outcomes.

Targeted Interventions

Specific interventions targeting fatigue and depression may lead to better functional improvements in patients with myelopathy.

Further Research

Further research is needed to understand the causal relationships between depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and functional outcomes in myelopathy patients.

Study Limitations

1
Relatively smaller sample size
2
Heterogeneous group of myelopathy patients in terms of etiopathology and duration of illness
3
Single-center study limiting generalizability

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