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

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 (beta = -6.6, p = 0.002), long individual call duration (beta = -5.3, p = 0.012), more daily calls (beta = -3.6, p = 0.027), invariably answer call immediately (beta = -3.9, p = 0.022) and high comprehensive exposure level (beta = -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 (beta = -4.2, p = 0.008), while those with a bilateral answering phone had higher anxiety (beta = 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.