Psychological wellbeing among carers of people with spinal cord injury: a preliminary investigation from South India.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study that assessed people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their carers who attended the 3-day health care program.


OBJECTIVE
The study examined the nature and prevalence of the factors associated with psychological morbidity among carers of people with SCI.


METHODS
A community reintegrated population of persons with SCI and their carers attended the 3-day program in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Christian Medical College Hospitals, Vellore, South India.


METHODS
Thirty-eight people with SCI and their carers participated in this cross-sectional study.


RESULTS
Thirty (78.9%) carers of people with SCI were psychologically distressed. While carers were distressed, they were not significantly depressed. Educational level of carers and suicidal behavior of people with SCI were significantly associated with psychological distress.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that health care workers should have a high index of suspicion of psychological morbidity, in carers of people with SCI. Identification of risk factors may lead to useful target interventions.
Manigandan
C
C
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Christian Medical College and Hospitals, Vellore 632004, India.
Saravanan
B
B
Macaden
A
A
Gopalan
L
L
Tharion
G
G
Bhattacharji
S
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires