I am not aware of a bilateral cause-effect link between depression and spinal cord. Although, you can see comorbity of depression with spinal cord injuries. These could be resultant of the drastic life changing experience of the individual. But then depression is comorbid a variety of disorders and conditions. Although, endophenotype for depression is still being researched, the disregulation of neurotransmittors (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine) are widely accepted.

Hi shubha, I fully agree with you and also there are articles flowing out relating Depression and SCI but that will be more towards PTSD.  But i need to know will there be a connection between depression and SC because all the brain impulse has to be carried out through the SC only.  So Depression affecting the brain regions do in turn affect the SC also????

I agree. Besides, mood disorder is a consequence and not a cause of depression. The neuro-biochemical imbalance leads to many bodily dysfunctions. Some imply probably spill cord. The most evocative is bladder instability and functional small bladder which imply, seemingly, a dysregulation of bladder-cord reflex arc. Digestive dysfunction could also be mediated by intrinsic nervous system.

You could be interested by the english abstract of my book on my site at section depression F&E.

bmaroy.free.fr

Hi Hemanth, I haven't come across findings linking depression-SC. Research has linked dysfunctional serotonergic system (bottom to top) in the brain causing depression, related cognitive impairments and behavioural maladaptations. The theraputic effects of talk therapies and CBT has been researched as a top to bottom effect on neural functioning. Otherwise, I am not aware of depression affecting brain regions per se. I cannot see how depression can effect SC, its structure or functioning.

The dysregulation and aberrant connectivity causing cognitive impairments can lead to inaccurate perceptions, which in turn result in maladaptive behaviours. So the messages sent from brain areas are inaccurate rather than the messages not being sent.

B. S. Hemanth Kumar ,

Some papers linking the two issues:

Biol Psychiatry. 2014 Oct 1;76(7):575-84. Immune activation promotes depression 1 month after diffuse brain injury: a role for primed microglia.

Fenn AM, Gensel JC, Huang Y, Popovich PG, Lifshitz J, Godbout JP

Emotional modulation of pain and spinal nociception in persons with major depressive disorder (MDD). Terry EL, DelVentura JL, Bartley EJ, Vincent AL, Rhudy JL. Pain. 2013 Dec;154(12):2759-68.

Prevalence of depression after spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis. Williams R, Murray A. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Jan;96(1):133-40.

Identifying depression severity risk factors in persons with traumatic spinal cord injury. Williams RT, Wilson CS, Heinemann AW, Lazowski LE, Fann JR, Bombardier CH; PRISMS Investigators. Rehabil Psychol. 2014 Feb;59(1):50-6.

Predictors of participation enfranchisement after spinal cord injury: the mediating role of depression and moderating role of demographic and injury characteristics. Wong AW, Heinemann AW, Wilson CS, Neumann H, Fann JR, Tate DG, Forchheimer M, Richards JS, Bombardier CH. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Jun;95(6):1106-13.

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; for the PRISMS Investigators. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015 Jan 21.

Efficacy of venlafaxine XR for the treatment of pain in patients with spinal cord injury and major depression: a randomized, controlled trial. Richards JS, Bombardier C, Wilson C, Chiodo T, Brooks L, Tate D, Temkin N, Barber J, Heinemann A, McCullumsmith C, Fann J. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Dec 16. pii: S0003-9993(14)01306-9.

Sorry I just saw this question. The only paper that I know of that has reviewed this question is by RG Frank et al Clinical Psych Rev, Vol. 7, pp. 61 l-630, 1987. I am sending you a pdf of the paper. Best wishes, Chuck