[Preventive psychology - theory and practical application on the example of paraplegic patients (author's transl)]

Starting out from Caplan's thinking on the concept of prevention and on crisis theory, it is contended for the care of persons with paraplegia, as for that of physically disabled people generally, that psychological prevention must set in already during their stay in hospital. A study of 77 paraplegic individuals confirms the urgent need for these efforts, which aim at reducing the occurrence of stressful situations and at promoting the most favourable outcome possible. They presuppose a search for environmental conditions that may generate crisis in individual disability groups, and also on what exactly it is that makes up for their being psychologically taxing. The findings obtained then form the basic structure for the concrete procedure to be followed by the rehabilitation facility. The central focus of this management approach is the problem-solving method, coupled with and extended by major components of discussion therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and of social skills training.