Indicators of psychological distress in postacute spinal cord injured individuals.
METHODS
Consecutive inclusion of spinal cord injured patients admitted for postacute rehabilitation from June 2000 to January 2002.


OBJECTIVE
Assessment of prevalence of indicators of psychological distress in the subacute and early chronic stages after acute-onset spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
A Swedish rehabilitation center.


METHODS
In all, 36 patients participated. Psychological assessment was obtained at admission, discharge and 6 months follow-up by psychological measures based on the DSM-IV (ie Beck's Depression Inventory, SPIFA, SCID-screen, AUDIT) and clinical interview. Ongoing psychotropic medication was noted.


RESULTS
Clinical depression was infrequent. However, ongoing psychotropic medication was common, possibly indicating a relatively high incidence of underlying depressive and anxiety disorders. In all, 25% of the sample showed indicators of high alcohol consumption. Few patients had a previously diagnosed personality disorder. By contrast, there was frequent occurrence of personality traits outside normal ranges.


CONCLUSIONS
Medication of psychological problems commonly occurs after SCI, especially for depression and anxiety. There are indications of alcohol overconsumption in a substantial minority of SCI patients. The study raises the question of whether suppression of psychological symptoms by drug therapy is the optimal treatment of such problems in a rehabilitation process.
Osteråker
A-L
AL
Rehab Station Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
Levi
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000209:etiology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
D000928:Antidepressive Agents