Depression and associated factors in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of depression and associated factors in patients (n = 100) with lumbar spinal stenosis selected for surgical treatment.


METHODS
Depression was assessed with the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory. Psychological well-being was assessed with Life Satisfaction Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Sense of Coherence Scale. Physical functioning and pain were assessed with the Oswestry disability index, the questionnaire devised by Stucki and the Visual Analogue Scale. All questionnaires were administered before surgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis.


RESULTS
Twenty percent of the patients with LSS were found to have clinically important depression. In univariate analyses, subjective disability measured with the Oswestry disability index, low sense of coherence and poor life satisfaction were common in depressed patients. In the multiple logistic regression analyses, being dissatisfied with life was associated with depression. When sense of coherence score was included in the model, then only low sense of coherence was independently associated with depression. Neither socio-demographic nor pain-related factors associated with depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinically important depression is rather common among preoperative patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The factors associated with depression are subjective disability of everyday living and decreased life satisfaction. A low sense of coherence is an important correlate of depression. The results underline the importance of assessing depression in clinical practice dealing with these patients.
Sinikallio
Sanna
S
Department of Rehabilitation, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. sanna.sinikallio@kuh.fi
Aalto
Timo
T
Airaksinen
Olavi
O
Herno
Arto
A
Kröger
Heikki
H
Savolainen
Sakari
S
Turunen
Veli
V
Viinamäki
Heimo
H
D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires