The adjustments of adolescents to poliomyelitis: A study of six patients

Abstract

Summary 1.Those patients whose prepoliomyelitis personality was described as “persistent in pursuing their goals” have made the best recovery. 2.During the acute stage of poliomyelitis,trivial incidents took on exaggerated significance. If these incidents were ignored by physicians, nurses, or parents, the poliomyelitis victim became afraid to ask questions. 3.The reactions of anxiety, fear, and terror appeared two to six weeks after the onset of paralysis. 4.Patients and parents reacted to the illness in a manner appropriate to their cultural background. 5.The parents felt useless when the physiotherapist took over his task, since they had reverted emotionally to being parents of a helpless infant. 6.In general, the physicians set adefinite limit upon the amount of possible recovery; the physiotherapists emphasized slow constant gain. 7.The parents refuse to believe that their child will not recover completely; therefore, five of these patients continue to receive physiotherapy three to eight years postpoliomyelitis. 8.The patients avoid associationwith other postpoliomyelitis people. They desire social acceptance and a personal feeling of body normalcy. Summary 1.Those patients whose prepoliomyelitis personality was described as “persistent in pursuing their goals” have made the best recovery. 2.During the acute stage of poliomyelitis,trivial incidents took on exaggerated significance. If these incidents were ignored by physicians, nurses, or parents, the poliomyelitis victim became afraid to ask questions. 3.The reactions of anxiety, fear, and terror appeared two to six weeks after the onset of paralysis. 4.Patients and parents reacted to the illness in a manner appropriate to their cultural background. 5.The parents felt useless when the physiotherapist took over his task, since they had reverted emotionally to being parents of a helpless infant. 6.In general, the physicians set adefinite limit upon the amount of possible recovery; the physiotherapists emphasized slow constant gain. 7.The parents refuse to believe that their child will not recover completely; therefore, five of these patients continue to receive physiotherapy three to eight years postpoliomyelitis. 8.The patients avoid associationwith other postpoliomyelitis people. They desire social acceptance and a personal feeling of body normalcy.