Effectiveness Of Interventions For Depressive Symptoms After Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review
Date of Award
January 2025
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Medical Doctor (MD)
Department
Medicine
First Advisor
Benjamin Doolittle
Abstract
Our aims were to summarize and evaluate evidence regarding the efficacy ofinterventions for depressive symptoms in adults living with spinal cord injury (SCI) and comorbid major depressive disorder or significant depressive symptoms to inform the development of clinical practice guidelines. Articles published since 2013 and available in Medline, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, or PsycINFO were evaluated. Databases were searched in June 2022 and updated November 2023. Inclusion criteria: age 18 years or older, traumatic SCI, and clinically significant depression (Population), mental health interventions including behavioral, pharmacological, and complementary and alternative medicine (Intervention), inclusion of a control group (Comparator), with a primary outcome of depression symptom reduction (Outcome). Criteria were applied by multiple reviewers and disagreements were reconciled via unanimous decision among the entire research team. Eight articles of 2,780 screened met the selection criteria. Data were extracted independently by multiple reviewers. Two reviewers independently assigned a quality score using the guidelines described by Hawker and associates and independently evaluated the risk of bias of each article using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. All studies assessed depressive symptoms during participant recruitment, screening, and/or at a baseline assessment stage. Pharmacotherapy with venlafaxine XR and several behavioral interventions appear promising, including an online mindfulness course and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. Remote interventions may be effective in reaching individuals who are unable to travel to in-person therapy sessions. This systematic review provides valuable information for clinicians who treat individuals with SCI and comorbid major depressive disorder or significant depressive symptoms. It highlights the importance of considering a variety of interventions and individualizing treatment to meet individuals’ needs and preferences. Future research should aim to identify effective interventions for treating depressive symptoms in individuals with SCI and optimal delivery methods for these interventions.
Recommended Citation
Cotter, Robert, "Effectiveness Of Interventions For Depressive Symptoms After Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review" (2025). Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library. 4305.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ymtdl/4305

This Article is Open Access
Comments
This is an Open Access Thesis.