A considerable body of clinical literature discusses patient adjustment following spinal cord injury (SCI) and previous investigators have reported on association between psychological variables and rehabilitation. However, there are few empirical data and methodologic problems which did not easily replicate.
The present study examined the effects of standardized psychologic measures and time since insight on specific rehabilitation process and outcome in initial rehabilitation hospitalization. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), and the Derogatis Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R) were administered to 27 complete paraplegic patients on admission to inpatient rehabilitation program.
Patients who did show high scores on personality measures of hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria and more transient depression index tended to require longer hospitalization. Personality measures of hypomania, age, marital status and level of injury were significantly correlated with level of self- care skills at discharge. Higher scores of paranoia, schizophrenia and hypomania related to lower ratings of responsibility to self- care and motivation. Time since accurate insight was not significantly correlated to any dependent variables.
Results emphasized the importance of the personality traits and psychologic states during SCI inpatient rehabilitation and suggested that, for some patients, psychologic intervention directed at modifying certain psychologic features may facilitate adaptive rehabilitation process.
