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Narrative review links adolescent idiopathic scoliosis to anxiety and depression via stress, pain, and body image pathwaysNew strategies aim to improve mental health in scoliosis patients

AI-generated summary of the cited source, checked by automated accuracy review. How we work

Key Takeaway
Consider anxiety and depression in AIS, but note this narrative review offers no trial data.

This narrative review explores the relationship between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and co-occurring anxiety and depression, with a focus on psychophysiological interaction mechanisms and intervention strategies. It does not report epidemiological characteristics, sample sizes, or effect estimates.

The authors propose that psychosocial stress, chronic pain, body image disturbance, and interconnected neuroendocrine and neuroimmune pathways contribute to the psychological burden in AIS. They describe intervention strategies including psychological therapies, pharmacotherapy, physical rehabilitation, and emerging multidisciplinary integrated care models.

The review is narrative and does not provide specific trial data or statistical evidence for the mentioned mechanisms or interventions. Limitations, funding, and conflicts of interest are not reported.

For clinicians, the review offers a theoretical foundation and a comprehensive management framework aimed at improving holistic physical and mental health outcomes for individuals with AIS. It should be interpreted as a conceptual synthesis rather than as evidence of efficacy for any specific intervention.

How this fits prior evidence

This narrative review extends prior coverage of psychiatric interventions by shifting focus to a medically complex adolescent population. Where prior items addressed treatment options for depression and anxiety (electrical stimulation, MBSR for GAD, rTMS with sertraline in adolescents), this review argues that in AIS, anxiety and depression are intertwined with psychosocial stress, chronic pain, body image, and neuroendocrine and neuroimmune pathways. It also proposes multidisciplinary integrated care models, complementing prior pharmacologic and neuromodulation findings. However, unlike the high-certainty MBSR evidence or the rTMS trial data previously covered, this review provides no statistical evidence, so it should be read as hypothesis-generating for integrated care in AIS.

Living with scoliosis is about more than just a curved spine. For teenagers, the physical reality of the condition can lead to significant mental and emotional hurdles. This review explores how things like chronic pain, stress, and concerns about body image can all link together to affect a young person's well-being.

Researchers are looking at the complex ways the body and mind interact. They found that factors like stress and body image issues are connected to the body's internal systems, including the immune and nervous systems. This means that the mental toll of scoliosis is a physical reality as well.

To help, experts are looking at a mix of treatments. These include psychological therapies, physical rehabilitation, and medication. The goal is to move toward a team-based approach that treats the whole person, focusing on both the physical curve of the spine and the mental health of the patient.

What this means for you:
A combined approach of physical and mental health care can better support teens with scoliosis.

Common questions

How does scoliosis affect a teenager's mental health?

Living with scoliosis can lead to several mental health challenges. These include chronic pain, stress, and issues with body image. These factors are linked to the body's immune and nervous systems, meaning the mental and physical aspects of the condition are closely connected.

What kind of treatments are available for the mental toll of scoliosis?

There are several ways to manage the mental and physical impacts of scoliosis. These include psychological therapies, physical rehabilitation, and medication. Experts are also looking at multidisciplinary models that combine these different types of care to treat the whole person.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedOct 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a common three-dimensional spinal deformity, and its comorbidity with psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression is increasingly attracting clinical and research attention. This narrative review aims to summarize the epidemiological characteristics of this comorbidity in AIS. It explores the complex underlying psychophysiological interaction mechanisms, including psychosocial stress, chronic pain, body image disturbance, and interconnected neuroendocrine and neuroimmune pathways. Based on this mechanistic understanding, the article further synthesizes and evaluates existing intervention strategies for this comorbid condition, encompassing psychological therapies, pharmacotherapy, physical rehabilitation, and emerging multidisciplinary integrated care models. Finally, the review outlines future research directions, with the goal of providing a theoretical foundation and a comprehensive management framework to improve the holistic physical and mental health outcomes for individuals with AIS.
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