Understanding the Impact of Screening Location on Depressive Symptom Scores Among People With Spinal Cord Injury

Objective To compare Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) responses among individuals screened in inpatient rehabilitation versus at home during the first year after spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Cross-sectional secondary analysis. Setting Depressive symptomology was assessed either during SCI acute inpatient rehabilitation stay (Inpatient Group [IG]) or postdischarge in home setting (Home Group [HG]). Participants A total of 148 individuals (N=148) with traumatic or nontraumatic SCI with complete PHQ-9 responses (42 HG; 106 IG) were included. Participants were 71% men, with a mean age of 48±19.5 years and a duration of injury (DOI) 62±55 days (between April 2019 and January 2024). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures PHQ-9 scores and prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI). Results Median DOI in the IG was 35 days versus 78 days in the HG ( P