Mental health decline after Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is commonly reported but minimally investigated in the United Kingdom. The current study aims to explore the prevalence and impact of mental health challenges after SCI to establish population norms in the UK. Additionally the current study will aim to identify barriers to and facilitators of mental health support seeking in people with SCI.
A four-phase mixed methods research study will be undertaken. Phase One will be a cross-sectional online survey designed to determine the prevalence of mental health conditions in adults with SCI in the UK assessing resilience, anxiety, depression, pain, life satisfaction, PTSD and coping self-efficacy. Phase Two will consist of in-depth semi-structured online interviews conducted with approximately twenty people with Spinal Cord Injury who, in the first study, indicated either that the participants had accessed, or had wanted to access mental health services. The two-part interview schedule will be undertaken, covering: 1) core themes surrounding the causes of, changes in, and management of mental health after SCI; and 2) questions relating to participant hopes for and experiences of satisfaction with, access to and efficacy of mental health services, in the context of the mental health service providers which participants currently use or have attempted to access. Phase Three will consist of in-depth semi-structured online interviews held with approximately twenty 'significant others' (partner/family/friend) of people with Spinal Cord Injury whose family member/partner/friend experience mental health problems. The interview schedule will cover two core themes surrounding: 1) perceptions of the causes and impact of mental health difficulties after SCI on 'significant others'; 2) their experiences of current mental health services provided for participants' partner/family/friend and perceived recommendations and hopes for better management of mental health in participants' family member/partner. Phase Four will recruit twenty-five people with high resilience (\>30 on the CD-RISC-10) to participate in an in-depth semi-structured online interview. This will review participants' thoughts and perceptions about resilience and how it is possible to maintain a high level of resilience whilst living with spinal cord injury.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
318
Observational
University of Reading
Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Anxiety
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7); minimum score = 0; maximum score = 21; Scores higher than 15 represent severe clinical levels of anxiety.
Time frame: Baseline
Depression
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); minimum score = 0; maximum = 27; scores over 20 represent severe clinical depression.
Time frame: Baseline
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R); 22 item measure of PTSD; minimum score = 0; maximum score = 88; scores over 33 indicate the clinical cut-off for probable PTSD.
Time frame: Baseline
Pain Interference
Multi-dimensional Pain Inventory: Spinal Cord Injury (MPI-SCI) Life Interference Subscale; Minimum interference score = 0; maximum interference score = 120; high scores indicate more problematic interference of pain with life.
Time frame: Baseline
Coping Self-efficacy
Coping Self-efficacy scale (CSES); minimum score = 0; maximum score = 50 (the mean for each of the five subscales is then summed).
Time frame: Baseline
Resilience
Connor-Davison Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC-10); minimum score = 0; maximum score = 100; higher scores indicate greater resilience.
Time frame: Baseline
Life Satisfaction
Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS); minimum score = 5; maximum score = 35, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction with life
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: Baseline