title: Perceptual deprivation in the acute phase of spinal injury rehabilitation.
abstract: Patients in intensive care units are often reported to experience psychological disturbances which may be attributable to a number of well-researched causes. However, it is suggested that the total lack of proprioceptive and motor feedback after spinal trauma may be a significant factor in the genesis of these disturbances which are unique to this group of patients. All cases admitted to the Regional Spinal Injuries Centre in Southport from January 1987 through December 1990 were assessed (n = 187) and the conditions surrounding the occurrence of behavioural disturbances (n = 23, 12.3%) established. The level of interaction with relatives and significant others was established for all acute admissions, and low frequency was found to correlate significantly with the development of perceptual deprivation experiences. The effects of inadequate somatosensory input, lesion level, increasing age, and visitor variability for spinal patients is discussed and an algorithm presented to highlight the potential factors associated with aetiology and treatment of the problem. The implications of these findings for the future management of acute spinal trauma are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, District General Hospital, Southport, Merseyside, England.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation