Spinal Cord Injury Update
Spring 2015: Volume 24, Number 1
UW Researchers Publish Landmark Study of Depression and SCI
Depression is a common problem in people with spinal cord injuries, and serious depression (called major depressive disorder or MDD) occurs in 25% to 30% of this population. MDD not only lowers quality of life but also has a negative effect on rehabilitation, independence, employment and social and leisure activities. It even can contribute to the development of pressure ulcers and urinary tract infections. Unfortunately, there has been little research to identify effective treatments for MDD in people with SCI.
In response, Charles Bombardier, PhD, and Jesse Fann, MD, at the University of Washington (UW), conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial called Project to Improve Symptoms and Mood After SCI (PRISMS), to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of the antidepressant medication venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release (XR) for MDD in individuals with SCI. This study included 133 individuals with SCI and MDD from outpatient clinics at six SCI treatment centers in the U.S. (including the UW). Seventy-four percent of participants were male, with an average age of 40 and average of 11 years since injury. Participants were randomly (by chance) assigned to receive 12 weeks of treatment with either venlafaxine XR or placebo (fake pill). Each participant completed depression interviews before and after treatment. This was a double-blind study, meaning neither the participants nor the investigators knew who was assigned to which group until the study was finished.
Results showed that venlafaxine XR was well tolerated by most patients and an effective antidepressant for decreasing core symptoms of depression and improving SCI-related disability.
These findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry:
JAMA Psychiatry. 2015 Mar 1;72(3):247-58. Venlafaxine extended-release for depression following spinal cord injury: a randomized clinical trial. Fann JR, Bombardier CH, Richards JS, Wilson CS, Heinemann AW, Warren AM, Brooks L, McCullumsmith CB, Temkin NR, Warms C, Tate DG; PRISMS Investigators.