Effect of depression on quality of life following spinal cord injury

Abstract

Abstract Background: SCI is a condition which affects many people at every year. It is continuous major cause of disability throughout Asia as well as Bangladesh. SCI is a common injury and it adversely affects person‟s QOL. SCI negatively can raise depression. Depression also associated with a person‟s age, sex, occupation, educational status. Objectives of the study: The objectives were to evaluate the level of depression, to know about any association between depression and overall QOL in people after having SCI. Objectives also were to know about any association in between depression and socio-demographic information (age, sex, educational status, marital status, monthly income, types of injury, treatment stage). Methodology: This study was conducted by using quantitative descriptive analysis. Cross sectional was chosen to conduct this study among 102 participants who were selected according to inclusion criteria. The „WHOQOLBREF‟

and „Depression scale‟, this two standard structured questionnaires were used to assess the depression and QOL on 102 participants. Result and Discussion: After analyzing data result was found the level of depression. The minimal level of depression was 82.4%, mild 7.8%, moderate 5.9% and severe was 3.9%. A significance association was found at level of depression and QOL after SCI (P>.001). Association also found some demographic information with depression. Association was found between occupation (P>.027), incidence (P>.000), phage of treatment, (P>.020) and weak association age with level of depression, and (P>.048). No statistical significance was found between depression with sex, educational status, marital status, monthly income and cause of injury. Conclusion: SCI is a consequence which may impact a person‟s whole life. After SCI when depression becomes high, it affects overall QOL directly or indirectly. It seems like that if depression levels become less or reduce it may high the overall QOL.