A research team from Michigan Medicine recently analyzed private insurance claims from over 9,000 adult individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury and over one million without the condition.
As indicated in a EurekAlert! report, these adults accounted for a range of psychological conditions from mood disorders and anxiety to dementia and Insomnia.
The new study showed that adults who live with spinal cord injuries have an almost 80-percent increased risk of developing psychological conditions like depression and anxiety than those without the traumatic injury. However, chronic pain may have a similarly large, adverse impact on mental health.
Results also showed that people living with a spinal cord injury were diagnosed with mental health conditions more frequently than those who did not have the injury. Specifically, figures represented as 59.1 percent against 30.9 percent.
Spinal Cord Injury Strongly Associated with PTSD
Whereas depression and negative mental health impacts are not predictable consequences of each traumatic spinal injury, previous findings have constantly echoed higher psychological morbidity levels among such a group than the general population minus spinal cord injuries.
Nevertheless, in this research published in Spinal Cord, chronic centralized and neuropathic pain in adults living with spinal cord injury was strongly linked to post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, substance use disorders, and other mental health problems.
In most circumstances, chronic pain was an even greater impact on these conditions compared to exposure to living with the injury itself.
The study authors explained that such findings need to prompt physicians to detect mental health conditions when seeing patients suffering from spinal cord injuries and refer them for treatment to mental health providers.
Improved Clinical Initiatives Needed
According to the paper's lead author Mark Peterson, Ph.D., physical medicine and rehabilitation associate professor at Michigan medicine, improved clinical initiatives are needed to facilitate early treatment for chronic pain and psychological health in this high-risk group.
Nonetheless, the study investigators noted a lack of insurance coverage and inadequate available services would likely lead the issue to stay unaddressed in general.
Peterson added that stakeholders need to work together to lobby for more federal study findings and special policy amendments to guarantee adequate and long-term insurance coverage for both mental and physical health to address the needs of people living with spinal cord injuries.
What is Spinal Cord Injury?
Mayo Clinic defines a spinal cord injury as a "damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves" at the end of the cauda equine or the spinal canal, frequently causes permanent changes in sensation, strength, as well as other functions of the body below the area of the injury.
The medicine news site also said if an individual has injured his spinal cord, it might appear like every aspect of his life has been affected.
He might feel the impacts of the injury not just physically but also mentally, socially, and emotionally. A lot of researchers are optimistic that advances in studies will someday make spinal cord injuries' repair possible.
Research studies are being carried out globally. For now, treatments and rehabilitations enable many people suffering from the condition to lead an independent and productive life.
Related information about chronic pain and depression is shown on Kati Morton's YouTube video below:
Check out more news and information on Mental Health in Science Times.
