“…As many as
60% of spinal cord injured patients suffer from depression (Shin, Goo et al 2012), anxiety (Post and van Leeuwen 2012), and general decreased quality
of life (Boakye, Leigh et al 2012). Commensurate with these statistics, and the risks associated with depression (McCullumsmith, Kalpazian et al 2015), suicide
attempts and suicide ideation are estimated to be 3 or more times greater following
SCI, than in the general population (DeVivo, Black
et al 1991, Soden, Walsh et al
2000). Depression is also associated with long-term negative outcomes
after SCI including an increased incidence of secondary complications (Malec and Neimeyer 1983, Herrick, Elliott et al 1994, Elliott and Frank 1996) and lower functional independence
(Gelis, Daures et al 2011, Abdul-Sattar 2014).…”