Depression in Patients with Disease on the Right Side

Some reports that a cerebral function changes exist according to a musculoskeletal disease. Depression is related to decrease of function in the left frontal lobe. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the affected side on depression. One hundred and thirty-six patients with lower extremity joint disorders participated in this study. Depression was measured by the self depression scale (SDS). To determine associations between SDS and other factors, multiple linear regression analysis was performed with the depression score as the dependent variable and the affected side, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, pain (visual analog scale), health assessment questionnaire and age as independent variables. Disease on the right side was significantly associated with SDS. This result may suggest that, in patients with disease on the right side depression is more likely because of decrease of function in the left frontal lobe. It is important to approach rehabilitation both somatically and psychologically.