Sarman, HakanÇakır, UğurKoç, BünyaminBoyraz, İsmailIşık, Cengiz2021-06-232021-06-2320150940-67191432-0932https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3710-3https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12491/8450We read with great interest the recent article by Wahlman et al. [1] in which the authors examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms before and after surgery and its association with disability in patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion. They concluded that one-third of their patients with chronic back pain undergoing spinal fusion had depressive symptoms pre-operatively and the prevalence of depressive symptoms decreased after surgery, so there is no need to exclude depressive patients from operation, but screening measures and appropriate treatment practices throughout both pre-operative and post-operative periods are encouraged. To add to the clear discussion provided by the authors, we wish to emphasize an important factor that should be taken into consideration when evaluating the prevalence of depression and/or anxiety symptoms.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessLetter10.1007/s00586-014-3710-3242412412254879542-s2.0-84925486367Q1WOS:000349437200031Q2