Psychosocial adjustment to visual loss in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate psychosocial adjustment to visual loss in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Thirty-three legally blind patients with RP participated in the study. Information regarding the patients' adjustment to their visual loss was obtained using the Psychological Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR). Seven psychosocial domains were tested: health-care orientation, vocational environment, domestic environment, sexual relationships, extended family relationships, social environment, and psychological distress. These scores were compared with the psychosocial adjustment of patients with diabetes.


RESULTS
Significantly elevated scores (a high score reflecting poor adjustment) were seen in four out of seven domains. The highest relative score was seen in the health-care orientation domain (65 +/- 14, p < 0.001), followed by vocational function (61 +/- 11, p < 0.001), social environment (58 +/- 9, p < 0.001), and extended family relationships (55 +/- 9, p < 0.05). The total PAIS score was significantly elevated (58 +/- 8; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with RP have difficulties in adjusting to their visual loss particularly with respect to health-care orientation, vocational environment, social environment, and extended family relationships. They face more difficulties in these domains than diabetic patients in adjusting to their illness.
Jangra
Dalbhir
D
Department of Ophthalmology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Ganesh
Anuradha
A
Thackray
Robin
R
Austin
LaToya
L
Ulster
Alissa
A
Sutherland
Joanne
J
Levin
Alex V
AV
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment