No abstract

Five categories of interacting factors that influenced symptoms of anxiety and depression both before and after surgery were identified: pain, lack of information, disability, return to work, and mental health. Information appears to have a regulating effect on anxiety and depression.

NCT01214954.

BACKGROUND: Approximately one-third of patients undergoing spine surgery have symptoms of anxiety and depression that correlate with pain, disability, and lower health-related quality of life. The use of web-based informative strategies before surgery and principles from cognitive behavioral therapy, have been applied in other patient groups, facilitating mobility and encouraging beneficial coping behavior. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of a web-based Spine Platform featuring Interaction and Information by Animation (w-SPIINA) on symptoms of anxiety and depression, pain, disability, and health-related quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: A single-center, two-arm, randomized controlled trial PATIENT SAMPLE: One hundred fourteen consecutive patients scheduled for instrumented lumbar spine fusion due to degenerative disc disease or spondylolisthesis. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was the change in self-reported Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores from baseline to 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were change in HADS 1-day before surgery 2 days and 6 months after and changes in self-reported disability measured on the Oswestry disability index (ODI), quality of life (EQ-5D-5L questionnaire), and the low back pain rating scale (LBPRS) 2 days and 3 and 6 months after surgery. METHOD: Patients were randomized to either a control group receiving a standard information regimen or an intervention group gaining access to w-SPIINA in addition to the standard regimen.