Effects of electromagnetic fields from mobile phones on depression and anxiety after titanium mesh cranioplasty among patients with traumatic brain injury.

Brain injury · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 4729

Study snapshot

PublicationBrain injury · 2016

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of radiofrequency-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) from mobile phones on depression and anxiety after titanium mesh cranioplasty among patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: Two hundred and twenty patients with TBI and titanium mesh cranioplasty who were hospitalized from 2008-2012 were recruited in this study. From November-December 2012, the relevant information was surveyed including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle variables, injury-related information, RF-EMF exposure of mobile phone, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Associations of RF-EMFs exposure after titanium mesh cranioplasty with SAS and SDS were respectively estimated by multivariable linear regression models. RESULTS: The patients with long durations of mobile phone use (β = -6.6, p = 0.002), long individual call duration (β = -5.3, p = 0.012), more daily calls (β = -3.6, p = 0.027), invariably answer call immediately (β = -3.9, p = 0.022) and high comprehensive exposure level (β = -4.8, p = 0.003) had a lower score of depression compared with those without a mobile phone. Moreover, an ipsilateral and contralateral answering phone enhanced the protective effect on depression. Individuals with a long duration of mobile phone use had a lower score of anxiety (β = -4.2, p = 0.008), while those with a bilateral answering phone had higher anxiety (β = 3.9, p = 0.012) in comparison to those without a mobile phone. CONCLUSION: RF-EMFs after cranioplasty were significantly associated with the lower risk of depression and anxiety status among patients with TBI. Chronic and frequent RF-EMFs exposure may improve psychiatric disorders among patients with TBI.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecross_sectional

Effect directionmixed

PopulationPatients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who had titanium mesh cranioplasty and were hospitalized 2008–2012

Sample size220

ExposureRF · assessed via duration of mobile phone use, individual call duration, daily calls, answering behavior, and a comprehensive exposure level

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In multivariable linear regression, longer and more frequent mobile phone use/exposure metrics (e.g., long duration of use, long call duration, more daily calls, immediate answering, high comprehensive exposure level) were associated with lower depression scores compared with those without a mobile phone. Longer duration of mobile phone use was associated with lower anxiety scores, while bilateral answering was associated with higher anxiety compared with those without a mobile phone.

Outcomes measured

Depression (Self-rating Depression Scale, SDS)
Anxiety (Self-rating Anxiety Scale, SAS)

Limitations

Observational, survey-based design (associations; causality not established)
Exposure characterized by self-reported mobile phone use/behavior rather than stated objective RF measurements
Frequency and SAR not reported in abstract
Single time-point survey (Nov–Dec 2012)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "assessed via duration of mobile phone use, individual call duration, daily calls, answering behavior, and a comprehensive exposure level"
  },
  "population": "Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who had titanium mesh cranioplasty and were hospitalized 2008–2012",
  "sample_size": 220,
  "outcomes": [
    "Depression (Self-rating Depression Scale, SDS)",
    "Anxiety (Self-rating Anxiety Scale, SAS)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In multivariable linear regression, longer and more frequent mobile phone use/exposure metrics (e.g., long duration of use, long call duration, more daily calls, immediate answering, high comprehensive exposure level) were associated with lower depression scores compared with those without a mobile phone. Longer duration of mobile phone use was associated with lower anxiety scores, while bilateral answering was associated with higher anxiety compared with those without a mobile phone.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Observational, survey-based design (associations; causality not established)",
    "Exposure characterized by self-reported mobile phone use/behavior rather than stated objective RF measurements",
    "Frequency and SAR not reported in abstract",
    "Single time-point survey (Nov–Dec 2012)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "mobile phone",
    "traumatic brain injury",
    "titanium mesh cranioplasty",
    "depression",
    "anxiety",
    "SDS",
    "SAS"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study evaluates RF-EMF exposure from mobile phones and mental health outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2015.1089594
PubMed: 26595678

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library