[Needs of paraplegics with respect to psychological care during initial rehabilitation--a retrospective survey]

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the needs of persons with spinal cord injuries in the context of psychological support and their psychic stress during the period of initial rehabilitation. Using a questionnaire the following aspects are covered: professional psychological behaviour, social relationships, sexuality, function of bladder and intestines, pain, and coping with handicap. Replies received from 71 paralysed persons suggest the existence of general needs as well as different needs in groups. Among the grouping variables are age, sex, kind and degree of paralysis. It seems both feasible and advisable to take the findings into account in an individually adjusted way, thus including the frequently demanded preventive psychological work as an important part of rehabilitation.