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Psychological Adjustment to Spinal Cord Injury: Its Prediction by Pre-, Peri-, and Posttraumatic Risk Factors and Injury-Appraisals

Eilts, Annika LU (2015) PSYP01 20151
Department of Psychology
Abstract
Background: Individuals with acquired spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are at increased risk for developing mental disorders such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recent research has identified a range of risk factors including injury-related appraisals. The study examines injury-appraisals and established risk factors for PTSD and depression in a sample of SCI-patients. In line with previous research on SCI populations it was hypothesized that prevalence of PTSD and depression would be elevated and these outcomes would be related to pre-, peri-. and post-traumatic risk factors and by negative injury-appraisals.
Method: Participants were 44 adult inpatients and outpatients at a SCI specialist unit. Diagnostic status,... (More)
Background: Individuals with acquired spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are at increased risk for developing mental disorders such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recent research has identified a range of risk factors including injury-related appraisals. The study examines injury-appraisals and established risk factors for PTSD and depression in a sample of SCI-patients. In line with previous research on SCI populations it was hypothesized that prevalence of PTSD and depression would be elevated and these outcomes would be related to pre-, peri-. and post-traumatic risk factors and by negative injury-appraisals.
Method: Participants were 44 adult inpatients and outpatients at a SCI specialist unit. Diagnostic status, pre,- peri- and posttrauma risk factors and injury-appraisals were assessed by either self-report questionnaires or structured interviews.
Results: 27% of participants suffered from depression, 14% had a current diagnosis of PTSD, and 9% met criteria for both disorders. Multiple regression analyses revealed that disorder-specific and non-specific variables in combination with injury-appraisals accounted for 64% of variance in PTSD symptoms and 60% of variance in depressive symptoms. Injury-appraisals alone accounted for 18% of the variance in PTSD and 46% of variance in depression.
Conclusion: Study results add to a growing evidence base suggesting that injury-appraisals contribute significantly, over and above the role of other risk factors, to psychological adjustment to SCI. Results indicate that efforts to reduce risk for and symptoms of PTSD and depression in patients with SCIs should involve assessment and interventions aimed at injury- appraisals, among established risk factors such as trauma history. (Less)
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author
Eilts, Annika LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYP01 20151
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
spinal cord injury, appraisals, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, paraplegia, tetraplegia, psychological adjustment
language
English
id
7369867
date added to LUP
2015-06-18 11:14:55
date last changed
2015-06-18 11:14:55
@misc{7369867,
  abstract     = {{Background: Individuals with acquired spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are at increased risk for developing mental disorders such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recent research has identified a range of risk factors including injury-related appraisals. The study examines injury-appraisals and established risk factors for PTSD and depression in a sample of SCI-patients. In line with previous research on SCI populations it was hypothesized that prevalence of PTSD and depression would be elevated and these outcomes would be related to pre-, peri-. and post-traumatic risk factors and by negative injury-appraisals.
Method: Participants were 44 adult inpatients and outpatients at a SCI specialist unit. Diagnostic status, pre,- peri- and posttrauma risk factors and injury-appraisals were assessed by either self-report questionnaires or structured interviews.
Results: 27% of participants suffered from depression, 14% had a current diagnosis of PTSD, and 9% met criteria for both disorders. Multiple regression analyses revealed that disorder-specific and non-specific variables in combination with injury-appraisals accounted for 64% of variance in PTSD symptoms and 60% of variance in depressive symptoms. Injury-appraisals alone accounted for 18% of the variance in PTSD and 46% of variance in depression.
Conclusion: Study results add to a growing evidence base suggesting that injury-appraisals contribute significantly, over and above the role of other risk factors, to psychological adjustment to SCI. Results indicate that efforts to reduce risk for and symptoms of PTSD and depression in patients with SCIs should involve assessment and interventions aimed at injury- appraisals, among established risk factors such as trauma history.}},
  author       = {{Eilts, Annika}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Psychological Adjustment to Spinal Cord Injury: Its Prediction by Pre-, Peri-, and Posttraumatic Risk Factors and Injury-Appraisals}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}