Abstract:
Spinal cord injury is a traumatic disorder that is believed to be associated with a high risk of psychological disorder. The aim of this paper was to compare levels of negative psychological states in SCI and able-bodied controls. Participants included 33 people with SCI living in the community and 33 able-bodied controls similar in age and sex ratio. Measures included the Profile of Mood States and the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory. The odds of persons with SCI having elevated negative psychological states typical of people with a psychiatric disorder was seven times that of able-bodied persons. Future research needs to investigate psychological rehabilitation strategies that will be effective in lowering negative psychological states such as depressive mood in people with SCI.
