EXCRETORY DYSFUNCTION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AFTER SPINAL CORD INJURY

Abstract

Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a medically complex and life-disrupting condition and has been associated with a very high mortality rate. The present study aims to determine the excretory dysfunction in SCI patients and further to find out whether the psychological distress is directly associated with SCI or excretory dysfunction.

Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months and the participants were selected using non-probability convenience sampling. The data from 121 spinal cord injury patients were collected using questionnaires, including the Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score Questionnaire (NBDS), Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score-Short Form (NBSS-SF), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Categorical variables were obtained in the form of frequencies and percentages. Mean was obtained and data were presented in the form of tables. The Chi-square test was used to obtain the p-value.

Results: A total 121 patients, male (n = 76) and female (n = 45) were recruited in this study. The present study revealed that psychological distress has no association with spinal cord injury (Stress P=0.550, Anxiety P=0.721 and Depression P=0.323). Also, there is no association between psychological distress and neurogenic bowel dysfunction (Stress P=0.969, Anxiety P=0. 112 and Depression P=0. 751). Although, dramatically in neurogenic bladder dysfunction clinically stress was present but not theoretically (P= .107). However, we found that anxiety (P=.013**) and depression (P=.014**) were strongly associated with neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

Conclusion: The study findings showed that psychological distress had no link with Spinal cord injury patients. However, neurogenic bladder dysfunction after spinal cord injury in patients is strongly associated with psychological distress.