Postural assessment in major depressive disorder: comparisons between recurrent and non-recurrent depression

  • CJZ Janette Canales, Mood Disorders Unit (PROGRUDA), Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil, Brazil
  • CLFO Luis Felipe Costa, Mood Disorders Unit (PROGRUDA), Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil, Brazil
  • MRA Ricardo Moreno, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil
  • Rodolfo Campos, 1- Mood Disorders Unit (GRUDA) - Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital, University of Sao Paulo, School of, Brazil

Objective: To compare the body posture in patients with single and recurrent Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) episode. Methods: 34 MDD according to DSM-IV criteria and classified as single or recurrent episode patients with a mean age of 37.62 years (± 8.20) were evaluated. Postural assessment was performed using photographs in the standing position and anatomical points were marked with adhesive labels. The angles and distances were calculated with the aid of lines drawn through the CorelDraw software V.12.0. Results: Comparing both groups with the postural variables in the episode, there was a significant difference for: right ankle posture (p = 0.030), right and left lumbar lordosis (p = 0.014, p = 0.001, respectively), left thoracic kyphosis (p = 0.046) and left (shoulder posture p = 0.028). It was observed that patients with recurrent MDD had more postural changes with decreased ankle posture which means a tendency to ankle valgus, decreased lordosis, (which is more flattened), increasing thoracic kyphosis and higher protruding shoulder when compared to patients with non-recurring MDD Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of the type of depressive episode in postural alterations in patients with MDD. Recurrent depression could be associated with greater postural change, recalling that the negative impact of depression includes both affective and physical factors.