Longitudinal changes in psychological adaptation outcomes during spinal cord injury inpatient rehabilitation.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine average changes and individuals' patterns of change in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, general distress, and life satisfaction between admission to spinal cord injury inpatient rehabilitation and discharge; and to identify factors associated with change. Method: Longitudinal data collection as part of a national cohort study (N = 281). Changes in the psychological adaptation outcomes were analyzed using latent change score models. Reliable change indexes were calculated for each outcome to identify individuals' patterns of change. Biopsychosocial factors were examined as covariates of change. Results: On average, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and general distress decreased between admission and discharge, while life satisfaction increased. According to the reliable change indexes, several adaptation patterns were identified. The proportion of individuals following each pattern varied depending 491 Rehabilitation Psychology