Objective: To evaluate appearance of depression and anxiety in patiens with cervical dystonia and influence of dystonia symptoms on the quality of life.

Background: Cervical dystonia is a focal dystonia characterised with involuntary movement of the neck muscle, which leads to abnormal head posture. It can be accompained with pain and tremor.

Methods: To evaluate psychiatris symptoms we used Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticolis Rating Scale (TWRSTS) was used to evaluate symptoms of cervical dystonia. Quality of life was assessed with Craniocervical Dystonia Questionaire and Short Form 36 Health Survey.

Results: Nineteen patients with cervical dystonia were analyzed. Most of our patients have mild cervical dystonia (average TWSTRS 23,89). Depression was present in 42,1% and anxiety in 57,9% of patients. Disability, due to cervical dystonia, correlates with the appearance of the depression (ρ=0,534) and anxiety (r=0,652). Disability impaires quality of life through multiple aspects including stigma, emotional state, pain, daily activity, social life, physical function, physical and mental disability. Pain influences also the quality of life through the aspects of body pain, physical function, physical and mental disability.

Conclusions: Cervical dystonia due to disability and pain decrease quality of life in many aspects. Disability also influence on depression and anxiety that accompany in half of the patiens. Patients with cervical dystonia, beside follow up for symptoms of cervical dystonia, should be assessed for psychiatric symptoms in rutine clinical check-ups. Botulinum toxin therapy and antidepressant should be a treatment options for this patients.

5th Croatian Congress of Neurorehabilitation and Restoration Neurology.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/cervical-dystonia-and-quality-of-life/