Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2025, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (11): 1333-1341.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2025.11.010

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Effect of life reconstruction training on anxiety and depression among individuals with chronic spinal cord injury and their caregivers

XIE Haixia1, HU Xinxing2, ZHAI Hua1, LIN Peipei1, HE Jianhui2, ZHANG Jia1, DONG Xiaowan2, CHANG Fengshui2()   

  1. 1. Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 201619, China
    2. School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
  • Received:2025-07-03 Revised:2025-08-31 Published:2025-11-25 Online:2025-11-26
  • Contact: CHANG Fengshui E-mail:changfsh@fudan.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Research Project of the Shanghai Disabled Persons(2023ZC1002);Research Project of the Shanghai Disabled Persons(2022ZC1011);Project of Fudan University-PICC Health Insurance Company Limited (Major)(25);National Key Clinical Specialty Development Project(Z155080000004);Delong Scholars Program, School of Public Health, Fudan University

Abstract:

Objective To explore the effect of life reconstruction training on anxiety and depression among individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and their caregivers, and to analyze the influencing factors.

Methods A total of 216 SCI patients and 79 caregivers who participated in life reconstruction training were recruited from the Hope House for SCI individuals in Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital from May, 2017 to October, 2019. They were assessed with Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) before and after intervention.

Results After intervention, the scores of SAS and SDS decreased (P < 0.05) in both SCI patients and their caregivers. SAS scores were more likely to reduce in SCI patients who suffered anxiety at admission (OR = 2.315, 95%CI 1.328 to 4.033, P = 0.003) and their caregivers (OR = 3.632, 95%CI 1.270 to 10.390, P = 0.016), as well as non-agricultural-registered SCI patients (OR = 1.908, 95%CI 1.074 to 3.391, P = 0.028). Being unmarried, having an injury duration ≥ 21 years, injury due to disease, and having depression at admission significantly promoted the reduction in SDS scores among SCI patients (P < 0.05). Caregivers with a junior-high-school education or less were more likely to experience reductions in scores of SAS and SDS compared with those with higher education (P < 0.05). Caregivers with five to 15 years of caregiving experience achieved more anxiety reduction (OR = 7.155, 95%CI 1.806 to 28.342, P = 0.005).

Conclusion Life reconstruction training is effective on anxiety and depression among individuals with chronic SCI and their caregivers. It is recommended to prioritize anxiety interventions for patients with rural household registration in China, along with depression management for the married/divorced/widowed individuals, with < 21 years since injury, and trauma-induced lesions. For caregivers, it is needed to focus to anxiety and depression in better-educated individuals, as well as anxiety in those with either < 5 or ≥ 15 years of caregiving experience.

Key words: spinal cord injury, anxiety, depression, life reconstruction training, influencing factors

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