Psychosocial Effect of Brace Treatment in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Study Using EQ-5D.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate psychosocial effect of brace treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-5D) depression and anxiety category.

Background: AIS is a structural abnormality of the spine often affecting patients during the puberty, a critical period of developing psychosocial problems. Many questionnaires had been adapted to evaluate mental health and health-related quality of life of AIS patients. However, these questionnaires are often time consuming and difficult to obtain. Therefore, a simpler substitute-EQ-5D-was evaluated.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective cohort analysis of adult idiopathic scoliosis patients aged between 8 and 19, visiting outpatient's clinic. Beck's depression inventory, EQ-5D and EuroQoL visual assessment scale, and Objectified Body Consciousness Scale for Youth were compared between brace group and non-brace group of AIS patients. Furthermore, difference between male and female were evaluated within brace group.

Results: None of the questionnaire showed significant difference between brace and non-brace group. However, when male and female patients were compared within brace group, female patients were significantly more susceptible to depression and anxiety based on EQ-5D and body consciousness. Furthermore, depression and anxiety according to both BDI and EQ-5D were significantly correlated to health-related quality of life.

Conclusion: During brace treatment of female AIS patients, psychosocial status played a significant role in health-related quality of life. EQ-5D is a simple way to monitor the mental health status.