Hyperbaric Oxygen

Author Year
Country
Research Design
PEDro Score
Total Sample Size
Methods Outcome
Feng et al.,(2017)
China
RCT
PEDro=6
N=60
Population: HBO group (n=20): Mean
age=36.1±5.2 yr; Gender: males=14,
females=6; Level of injury: C=7, T=8,
L=5; Severity of injury: AIS A=0, B=12,
C=5, D=3.
Psychotherapy group (n=20): Mean
age=34.8±4.7 yr; Gender: males=15,
females=5; Level of injury: C=8, T=6,
L=6; Severity of injury: AIS A=0, B=10,
C=8, D=2. Conventional rehabilitation
group (n=20):Mean age=33.1±4.6 yr;
Level of injury: C=7, T=9, L=4; Severity
of injury: AIS A=0, B=10, C=7, D=3.
Intervention: Participants were
randomly allocated to either a
hyperbaric oxygen group (HBO), a
psychotherapy group or a conventional
rehabilitation group for an 8-wk
intervention in which all three groups
received routine rehabilitation on top of
their intervention. Therapy sessions
occurred once a day, 6 days a wk for 8
wk.
Outcome Measures: Hamilton
depression scale (HAMD), Hamilton
anxiety scale (HAMA), American spinal
injury association score (AISA) and
functional independence measure
(FIM).
age=36.1±5.2 yr; Gender: males=14,
females=6; Level of injury: C=7, T=8,
L=5; Severity of injury: AIS A=0, B=12,
C=5, D=3.
Psychotherapy group (n=20): Mean
age=34.8±4.7 yr; Gender: males=15,
females=5; Level of injury: C=8, T=6,
L=6; Severity of injury: AIS A=0, B=10,
C=8, D=2. Conventional rehabilitation
group (n=20):Mean age=33.1±4.6 yr;
Level of injury: C=7, T=9, L=4; Severity
of injury: AIS A=0, B=10, C=7, D=3.
Intervention: Participants were
randomly allocated to either a
hyperbaric oxygen group (HBO), a
psychotherapy group or a conventional
rehabilitation group for an 8-wk
intervention in which all three groups
received routine rehabilitation on top of
their intervention. Therapy sessions
occurred once a day, 6 days a wk for 8
wk.
Outcome Measures: Hamilton
depression scale (HAMD), Hamilton
anxiety scale (HAMA), American spinal
injury association score (AISA) and
functional independence measure
(FIM).
1. HAMD score was significantly lower
in both the HBO and psychotherapy
groups compared to the control group
at the end of 8 wk (p<0.05 for both)
with no significant difference between
HAMD score for HBO and
psychotherapy groups from baseline
to 8 wk (p>0.05).
2. HAMA score was significantly lower
for the HBO group than for the
control group (p<0.05) with no
significant difference in HAMA score
between the HBO and psychotherapy
groups (p>0.05).

Discussion

One study evaluated the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen in reducing symptoms of depression compared to psychotherapy group and a conventional rehabilitation group (Feng & Li 2017). The study found both HBO and psychotherapy groups had significant reduction in symptoms of depression compared to conventional rehabilitation group.

Conclusion

There is level 1b evidence (Feng & Li 2017) that hyperbaric oxygen may improve depressive symptoms post SCI.