Psychosocial responses to spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is devastating both physiologically and psychologically. The psychosocial responses to SCI are the focus of this article. The following nursing diagnoses as they relate to the acute SCI population are examined in detail: disturbance in self-concept (body image, self-esteem, and role performance); powerlessness; functional grieving; and alteration in family process. Each nursing diagnosis will be explored in depth.