The psychological effects of spinal cord injury: a review

Spinal cord injury (SCI) usually necessitates considerable changes in the life of an individual, and their family members. SCI may demand difficult psychological adjustment and in addition place great strain on family roles and relationships. Glass (1993) summarises the situation thus: 'The experience of spinal cord injury is one of the most devastating injuries which might affect an individual. The resultant disability, after which normal cognitive function and intellectual ability usually remains, produces not only an inability to move and feel limbs, but also the inability to control the function of internal organs and even, in severe cases, the ability to breathe independently.'1