Intrathecal baclofen improves psychiatric symptoms in spasticity patients

Abstract

Symptoms of psychological distress are relatively common in spasticity patients as a result either of the primary central nervous system insult or as a reaction to the ensuing impairment. Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is an established treatment for the spasticity with an unknown effect on the psychiatric symptoms. In this study, we evaluate the role of ITB in the amelioration of psychological distress symptoms in 15 patients who were not mentally disabled or psychotic. The patients were assessed with the Symptom Check List 90-Revised before and a mean of 12 months after ITB treatment. A significant improvement was noted at the subscales of positive symptoms total and anxiety. The anxiety subscale improvement was correlated with the ITB dose, but not with the reduction in the spasticity. An interesting trend was also noted in the subscales of general severity index, depression, and obsession-compulsion. The results show an additional beneficial effect of ITB and highlight the need of further clarification of the causative mechanism.