• Rachel Müller, Gunther Landmann, Markus Béchir, Timo Hinrichs, Ursina Arnet, Xavier Jordan, and BrinkhofMartin W GMWG.
• Empowerment, Participation and Social Integration Unit, Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF), 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland. rachel.mueller@paraplegie.ch.
• J Rehabil Med. 2017 Jun 28; 49 (6): 489-496.

ObjectiveTo test the hypotheses that: (i) pain is associated with depressive symptoms and quality of life; and (ii) participation restriction, satisfaction, and frequency mediate these relationships.DesignPopulation-based, cross-sectional study.Subjects/PatientsCommunity-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury (n = 1,549).MethodsHypotheses were tested in individuals with at least moderate chronic pain on the spinal cord injury - Secondary Conditions Scale (n = 834), applying structural equation modelling to data for spinal cord injury subgroups related to lesion severity (paraplegia, tetraplegia, complete, incomplete) and time since injury (≤ 10 vs ≥ 10 years). Model parameters included pain intensity (numerical rating scale), participation frequency, restriction, satisfaction (Utrecht Scale of Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation; USER-Participation), depressive symptoms (5-item Mental Health Index of the Short Form Health Survey; MHI-5), and 5 selected quality of life items (World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale; WHOQoL-BREF).ResultsStructural equation models confirmed associations of pain with depressive symptoms and quality of life, as well as the mediating role of participation restriction and low satisfaction with participation. These findings were apparent in individuals with tetraplegia or complete lesion and in those ≤ 10 years since paraplegia or incomplete injury.ConclusionUnrestricted or satisfactory participation was found to be a crucial resource for individuals living less than 10 years with a more severe spinal cord injury, since it represents buffering potential for the negative effects of chronic pain on mental health and quality of life.

16 keywords...

hide…