Impact of spinal cord injury on self-perceived pre- and postmorbid cognitive, emotional and physical functioning.
METHODS
Cross-sectional study with repeated measurements.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the patient's perspective of the impact of spinal cord injury (SCI) on physical, cognitive, emotional function, and quality of life (QOL).


METHODS
Australia.


METHODS
A sample of 63 patients with SCI, 32 of whom had recent injuries, and 31 with established injuries were administered the Ruff Neurobehavioral Inventory to examine patients' subjective evaluation of pre- and post-injury functioning. Current happiness levels were also evaluated using the Subjective Happiness Scale. A follow up assessment was performed 6 months later to examine changes over time.


RESULTS
A significant difference was found between perception of pre- and postmorbid function on composite Cognitive (t=5.99, df=62, P<0.001), Physical (t=11.56, df=62, P<0.001), and QOL (t=7.16, df=62, P<0.001) scales and on several of the Emotional subscales including anxiety, paranoia and suspicion, and substance abuse (P<0.001). A series of hierarchical regression analyses indicate that post-SCI pain was a significant predictor of: cognitive (R(2)=0.20, P<0.001); emotional (R(2)=0.13, P<0.004); and of QOL (R(2)=0.22, P<0.001) functioning. With the exception of a decrease in happiness (P<0.01), there were no significant changes in any measures over the 6 month time period.


CONCLUSIONS
There are significant changes in patients' perceptions of physical and cognitive functioning, and of QOL before and after SCI and some aspects of emotional functioning. Pain has a significant adverse effect on functioning. Happiness decreased slightly in the 6 months between surveys.
Murray
R F
RF
University of Sydney Pain Management and Research Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Asghari
A
A
Egorov
D D
DD
Rutkowski
S B
SB
Siddall
P J
PJ
Soden
R J
RJ
Ruff
R
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires