Mental Health of Adults Treated in Adolescence with Scoliosis-Specific Exercise Program or Observed for Idiopathic Scoliosis

OBJECTIVE To examine general mental health in adult males and females, who in adolescence participated in a scoliosis-specific therapeutic exercise program or were under observation due to diagnosis of scoliosis. DESIGN Registry-based, cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection. METHODS Sixty-eight subjects (43 women) aged 30.10 (25-39) years, with mild or moderate scoliosis (11-36° Cobb angle), and 76 (38 women) nonscoliotic subjects, aged 30.11 (24-38) years, participated. The time period since the end of the exercise or observation regimes was 16.5 (12-26) years. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) scores were analyzed with the χ(2) and U tests. Multiple regression analyses for confounders were also performed. RESULTS Intergroup differences of demographic characteristics were nonsignificant. Scoliosis, gender, participation in the exercise program, employment, and marital status were associated with BDI scores. The presence of scoliosis and participation in the exercise program manifested association with the symptoms. Higher GHQ-28 "somatic symptoms" subscale scores interacted with the education level. CONCLUSIONS Our findings correspond to the reports of a negative impact of the diagnosis of scoliosis and treatment on mental health. The decision to introduce a therapeutic program in children with mild deformities should be made with judgment of potential benefits, risks, and harm.