Immunizing against depression and anxiety after spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE

To further report on the effectiveness of early psychological intervention in reducing anxiety and depressive mood in persons with spinal cord injury 2 years after injury.

DESIGN

A nonrandomized, longitudinal, controlled trial. SETTING, OUTCOME MEASURES, AND INTERVENTION: Twenty-eight spinal cord injured persons participated in group cognitive behavior therapy during hospital rehabilitation. They were assessed for depressive mood and anxiety before, immediately after, and 12 and 24 months after treatment. The intervention group's responses on the measures were compared with a control group of 31 spinal cord injured persons who only received traditional rehabilitation services during their hospitalization.

RESULTS

Subjects in the treatment group with high depression and anxiety scores before treatment were significantly less depressed and reduced their anxiety to a greater extent 2 years after the injury in comparison with similar persons in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Group cognitive behavior therapy for spinal cord injured persons who are abnormally depressed and anxious appears to reduce depressive mood and anxiety in the short and long term.