Body Concept, Disability, and Depression in Patients with Spasmodic Torticollis

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Jahanshahi, M.^{; ;} | Marsden, C.D.

Affiliations: MRC Human Movement and Balance Unit and Department of Clinical Neurology, Institute of Neurology, The National Hospital, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG

Note: [] This work was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council.

Note: [] Reprint requests to: M. Jahanshahi, above address

Abstract: Eighty-five patients with idiopathic spasmodic torticollis were compared with an equally chronic group of 49 cervical spondylosis sufferers in terms of body concept, depression, and disability. The torticollis patients were significantly more depressed and disabled and had a more negative body concept. Depression had different determinants in the two groups. Extent of disfigurement was a major predictor of depression in torticollis. Neuroticism accounted for the greatest proportion of the variance of depression in cervical spondylosis.

DOI: 10.3233/BEN-1990-3206

Journal: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 117-131, 1990