title: Fatigue and tiredness in people with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fatigue is a common symptom in people with neurological injury such as spinal cord injury (SCI), though its nature and occurrence in people with SCI are not well understood. The objective of this research was to investigate fatigue and its relationship to factors such as mood states and self efficacy in adult people with SCI compared to able-bodied controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 41 adults with SCI living in the community and 41 able-bodied controls matched for age and sex ratios and education. All participants first completed a comprehensive psychological assessment and were then asked to take part in a 2-3 hour session composed of a regimen of cognitive tasks that required constant concentration and attention. Participants were assessed after completing this task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SCI group was found to have significantly elevated levels of fatigue, as well as elevated depressive mood, anxiety and poor self-efficacy. The SCI group was also found to suffer excessive levels of tiredness as a consequence of the 2-3 hour task. Factors such as depressive mood and poor self-efficacy were shown to increase the risk of excessive tiredness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with a neurological injury such as SCI have a high risk of having fatigue and are susceptible to experiencing excessive tiredness when performing extended tasks, and the presence of elevated depressive mood or poor expectations towards self management will increase this susceptibility. Implications for managing fatigue and improving social access in SCI populations are discussed.
authors: Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Sydney Medical School-Northern, The University of Sydney, Ryde, NSW, Australia. a.craig@sydney.edu.au
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Craig
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Tran
authors: Nirupama
authors: N
authors: Wijesuriya
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Middleton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D014851:Wakefulness; D055815:Young Adult