A report of the number of adolescents screened as warranting further investigation for depression and social anxiety in a pre-operative cohort with idiopathic scoliosis

Introduction:
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a common form of scoliosis, causing rotational deformity of the torso in a teenage population. In AIS this happens at a time of particular psychological development and vulnerability and a link between AIS and mental health problems has been observed.

Materials and methods:
Over a 6 month period, all patients with AIS aged 10–18 referred to a single spinal deformity centre in the UK were screened for symptoms suggestive of a potential diagnosis of depression and social anxiety.

Results:
Of the 33 patients surveyed, 6 (18%) had scores worthy of further assessment for a potential diagnosis of depression and 19 (59%) worthy of further assessment for a potential diagnosis of social anxiety.

Discussion and conclusion:
This small study supports the notion that there is an association between AIS and mental health issues. These initial findings support the practice of routine mental health screening in AIS.