title: Emotional indicators in young patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: a study through the drawing of Human Figure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Investigating Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is considered determinant in patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) in clinical as in research field. The aim of the present study is to explore the most relevant aspects of personality of the patients with AIS and its relationship with HRQL.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 patients (mean age = 16 years) were given a socio-demographic data questionnaire, the Human Figure Drawing (HFD) and SRS (Scoliosis Research Society) -22.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Subtotal SRS-22, patients presented a mean value of 3.9. In HFD, half of these patients presented physical and/or emotional tensions with reference to the shoulders and almost all of them did not show any expression of aggressiveness. No relationship between personality and HRQL was confirmed. The older the patients were, the more body tension was discovered as well as the more concerns about their bodies they showed to have. There was also a correlation between growing old and a decreasing in Mental Health. Previous conservative treatment did not show any impact on personality or on HRQL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with AIS suffer stress and general concern more frequently with the increase of age. We suggest an appropriate supportive treatment for this type of patients.
authors.affiliation: Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Agata
authors.affiliation: Institut Elena Salvá, Vía Augusta 185, 08021 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigo
authors.affiliation: Universitat Ramon Llull, FPCEE Blanquerna and IUSM Vidal i Barraquer, C/Cister, 34, 08022 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez-Testor
authors.affiliation: Independent Researcher, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Núria Casanovas
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Puigví
authors.affiliation: Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castellano-Tejedor