title: The Impact of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation on Disability and Depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of the named nerves of the head has been shown to be effective in reducing pain levels in patients with chronic pain refractory to other treatments. However, the impact of cranial PNS on depression and disability has not been well documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We prospectively examine the impact of PNS on quality of life via validated survey scores which assess symptoms of depression and daily functional capacities within patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent permanent PNS implantation completed five validated questionnaires: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), and the visual analog scale (VAS) score. These were completed at baseline, six months, and one year to assess changes in functioning levels. Results were analyzed via repeated measures ANOVA and bivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with baseline, at six months patients showed significantly less depression on BDI (F = 7.9, p = 0.021), and at one year, a significant decrease in disability was observed on the ODI (F = 6.1, p = 0.036). At both six months and one year, patients showed a significant decrease in pain on VAS (F = 16.5, p = 0.012). We noted a trend for ODI to correlate with BDI at six months (R = 0.616, p = 0.077).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our prospective data show PNS to be an effective modality in improving overall life quality by limiting depression and disability as well as pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramineni
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prusik
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De La Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Vignessh
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2032-294X
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Meghan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wilock
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fama
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Samik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Julie G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pilitsis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Depression; disability; peripheral/occipital nerve stimulation; quality of life