TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceived spasticity in chronic spinal cord injured patients
T2 - Associations with psychological factors
AU - Voerman, Gerlienke
AU - Erren-Wolters, Cathelijne V.
AU - Fleuren, Judith F.M.
AU - Hermens, Hermie J.
AU - Geurts, Alexander C.
N1 - eemcs-eprint-18780
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Purpose: To explore the association between perceived spasticity and psychological factors (pain sensations, coping strategies, and illness cognitions) in chronic spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. - Methods: Cross-sectional study using a set of questionnaires was designed for chronic complete patients with SCI and with self-reported leg spasticity. Outcome measures were Visual Analogue Scale for average perceived leg spasticity (VASSpasticity), VASPain for average perceived pain sensations in the leg, Utrecht Coping List (UCL) including its seven subscales, and Illness Cognition Questionnaire (ICQ) with its three subscales. Psychological factors with a bivariate correlation with VASSpasticity of p<0.2 were selected for regression analyses. - Results: Nineteen patients with SCI (response rate 86%) participated. Bivariate correlations of p<0.2 were found between VASSpasticity and VASPain, UCLActive approach, UCLSeeking social support, UCLReassuring thoughts, ICQAcceptation, and ICQHelplessness. Only UCLReassuring thoughts (Beta −0.59, p=0.01) and ICQHelplessness (Beta 0.50, p=0.02) were retained in the multivariate model, explaining 44% of the variance in VASSpasticity (R2adjusted). - Conclusions: Perceived spasticity appeared associated with psychological factors in complete patients with SCI: Those with higher levels of reassuring thoughts and lower levels of helplessness reported relatively lower levels of perceived spasticity. Large prospective cohort studies are recommended.
AB - Purpose: To explore the association between perceived spasticity and psychological factors (pain sensations, coping strategies, and illness cognitions) in chronic spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. - Methods: Cross-sectional study using a set of questionnaires was designed for chronic complete patients with SCI and with self-reported leg spasticity. Outcome measures were Visual Analogue Scale for average perceived leg spasticity (VASSpasticity), VASPain for average perceived pain sensations in the leg, Utrecht Coping List (UCL) including its seven subscales, and Illness Cognition Questionnaire (ICQ) with its three subscales. Psychological factors with a bivariate correlation with VASSpasticity of p<0.2 were selected for regression analyses. - Results: Nineteen patients with SCI (response rate 86%) participated. Bivariate correlations of p<0.2 were found between VASSpasticity and VASPain, UCLActive approach, UCLSeeking social support, UCLReassuring thoughts, ICQAcceptation, and ICQHelplessness. Only UCLReassuring thoughts (Beta −0.59, p=0.01) and ICQHelplessness (Beta 0.50, p=0.02) were retained in the multivariate model, explaining 44% of the variance in VASSpasticity (R2adjusted). - Conclusions: Perceived spasticity appeared associated with psychological factors in complete patients with SCI: Those with higher levels of reassuring thoughts and lower levels of helplessness reported relatively lower levels of perceived spasticity. Large prospective cohort studies are recommended.
KW - BSS-Biomechatronics and rehabilitation technology
KW - reassuring thoughts
KW - helplessness
KW - Spinal cord injury
KW - Spasticity
U2 - 10.3109/09638280903304490
DO - 10.3109/09638280903304490
M3 - Article
SN - 0963-8288
VL - 32
SP - 775
EP - 780
JO - Disability and rehabilitation
JF - Disability and rehabilitation
IS - 9
ER -