Associations Between Doing Planned Exercise and Probable Major Depressive Disorder in Individuals Following Spinal Cord Injury

Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil, 2020 · DOI: 10.1310/sci2601-11 · Published: January 1, 2020

Spinal Cord Injury Mental Health Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the link between exercise and depression in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It looks at whether regular, planned exercise is associated with a lower chance of having major depressive disorder (MDD). The study found that doing planned exercise regularly was linked to a lower risk of MDD in people with SCI. Also, people who increased their exercise over time were less likely to be depressed. These findings suggest that exercise could be a helpful way to manage or prevent depression after a spinal cord injury. More research is needed to understand exactly how exercise impacts depression in this population.

Study Duration

3.29 years

Participants

1,790 community-dwelling adults with traumatic SCI

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Low household income, poor self-perceived health, and decreased exercise frequency were associated with higher odds of PMDD at Time 2.
2
Increased years post-injury and more frequent exercise were associated with decreased odds of PMDD at Time 2.
3
Only 34% of participants at Time 1 and 29% at Time 2 reported doing planned exercise three or more times per week.

Research Summary

The study evaluated the association between self-reported frequency of planned exercise and probable major depressive disorder (PMDD) in community-dwelling individuals with chronic SCI. The prevalence of PMDD was 10% at Time 1 and 12% at Time 2, which is higher than the general population but lower than some studies have reported within the SCI population. The findings suggest that exercise could have an impact on PMDD post SCI, with risk factors including income and health status also playing a role.

Practical Implications

Promote Exercise

Encourage regular planned exercise as a potential strategy for managing or preventing depression in individuals with SCI.

Address Socioeconomic Factors

Recognize and address socioeconomic factors such as low income that may increase the risk of depression post-SCI.

Improve Self-Perceived Health

Focus on interventions that improve self-perceived health status to potentially reduce the risk of depression.

Study Limitations

1
Causality cannot be assumed due to the study's longitudinal nature.
2
The study did not account for variables such as pain, substance abuse, or self-efficacy.
3
All data were self-reported.

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