Post-Polio Syndrome: Psychological Adjustment to Disability

Abstract

Although the Pan American Health Organization declared in 1995 that polio had been eliminated in the Western Hemisphere, life-altering effects of the disease continue for many survivors. It is known as Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS). The sheer number of individuals experiencing the symptoms has attracted the attention of the medical community. These physical symptoms are severe enough to change the quality of life and require lifestyle changes for people with PPS to cope with the disease. The psychological implications for individuals who must face the reemergence of a disease they thought they had defeated 30 to 40 years ago are staggering. Thus, there is a crucial need for health care professionals, especially mental health nurses and psychotherapists, to address mental health issues that individuals with PPS experience.

The Perception of Physical Activity in Ambulatory Persons with Late Effects of Polio: A Qualitative Study

“…Persons living with late effects of polio are experienced in using coping strategies (Atwal et al, 2014;Hollingsworth, Didelot, & Levington, 2002;Wenneberg & Ahlstrom, 2000), which 16 have been described in relation to daily activities (Thorén Jönsson, Möller, & Grimby, 1998) but not specifically in relation to PA. Adaptation processes in relation to PA and increasing impairments have, however, been described for older adults in general (Janssen & Stube, 2014).…”

Tipos de configuração familiar e condições de saúde física e psicológica em idosos

“…A literatura 40 aponta estágios que vão desde o impacto inicial (caracterizado pelas reações de choque e ansiedade) até a reintegração ou reorganização (reconhecimento e aceitação psicológica da deficiência e suas implicações fí-sicas, sociais, familiares, pessoais e profissionais para o futuro). O equilíbrio se perpetua enquanto é possível, até que surge um episódio desafiador.…”

“…Ou seja, precisavam de cuidados. No entanto, nenhuma delas pontuou acima da nota de corte em sintomas depressivos, o que pode ser um indicador de maior resiliência psicológica refletida em adaptação às adversidades da velhice 40 .…”

Factors Associated with Health-related Quality of Life among Post-paralytic Polio Survivors in Nigeria

“…It is therefore imperative that any intervention for the disabled should not be restricted to physical rehabilitation alone, but also cater for other areas of life like education, livelihood and empowerment. Suggestions for intervention have included disease specific programmes (Halstead, 2006) based on multidisciplinary teams (Kling et al, 2000), psychological (Kemp et al, 1997;Hollingsworth et al, 2002), social support (Stuifbergen, 2005), and health promotion through smoking cessation, weight maintenance, and physical activity (Hofoss, 2004).…”