title: Depression, posttraumatic stress, and risk factors following spinal cord injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic depression and posttraumatic stress have been frequently observed in populations of accident victims with spinal cord injuries. Studies suggest that various risk factors contribute to the development and maintenance of these symptoms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed psychopathology around 4 years post-discharge in a German sample of 102 participants with spinal cord injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A wide range of sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables was investigated with regard to their association with psychopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately half of the patients (46.1 %) retrospectively reported clinically relevant depressive symptoms immediately post-discharge and 12.7 % exhibited scores indicative of a present depressive disorder. In addition, 8.8 % retrospectively reported clinically relevant symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after discharge from the hospital and 2 % were currently identified with chronic PTSD symptomatology. Time since injury and negative trauma-related appraisals of the self were strongly related to current psychopathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depressive reactions and posttraumatic distress may commonly occur after spinal injuries but will usually improve over time. It might be useful to routinely arrange follow-up contacts post-discharge in order to timely identify patients who are at risk of developing chronic psychopathology and require intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Schleichstr. 4, 72076, Tübingen, Germany, michael.schoenenberg@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schönenberg
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reimitz
authors.forename: Aiste
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jusyte
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badke
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hautzinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult