Living with spinal cord injury: longitudinal factors, interventions and outcomes

Abstract

While spinal cord injury (SCI) persons can enjoy a satisfactory quality of life, a significant minority have been found to suffer abnormal levels of negative life indicators like divorce, drug abuse and social discrimination. Re-admissions rates are generally high and complications arising from self-neglect are prevalent. Furthermore, SCI persons have high risks of developing abnormal levels of anxiety and depressive moods. The coping styles of SCI persons have also been shown to be altered, for instance, with a greater chance of them adopting helpless and fatalistic strategies. Treatment is needed that can reduce risks of these problems without further reducing quality of life. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) offered during hospital rehabilitation has been shown to be successful in reducing levels of anxiety and depressive mood, drug abuse and hospital re-admissions compared to SCI persons who received traditional rehabilitation. These results strongly suggest that the provision of specialized psychological treatments like CBT will enhance adjustment and raise quality of life for those living with a debilitating injury. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.