A new study published in Spine examines how depression and bipolar disorder affect patients who undergo spinal surgery.
The study authors examined 401 patients with symptomatic degenerative cervical myelopathy who enrolled in a prospective AOSpine International or North America study at 12 sites in North America. There were 97 patients diagnosed with pre-existing depression or bipolar disorders, and the patients with these disorders were more likely to be male.
Here are five key findings from the report:
1. The patients who reported pre-existing depression or bipolar were more likely to also have cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, rheumatologic and neurologic disorders.
2. All patients reported significant improvements in the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale, Nurick score, Neck Disability Index and SF-36v2 Physical Component Score two years after surgery.
3. The patients with depression or bipolar didn't report a change in the SF-36v2 Mental Component Score.
4. The NDI, SF-36v2 PCS and MCS score improvements two years after surgery were larger in patients without depression or bipolar.
5. The study authors concluded, "Patients with depression or bipolar disorder have smaller functional and quality of life improvements after surgery compared to patients with psychiatric comorbidities."