Family adaptation to the traumatic spinal cord injury of a son or daughter.

The article presents the case history of a family in which an adolescent son receives a traumatic spinal cord injury. The focus of the study is on the adaptation of the family unit to the permanent disablement of their dependent child. The family's grief reaction is examined as are their patterns of adaptation in family task organization, affection, communication, and power structures. The authors also discusses the effect of the injury on specific intrafamily relationships and presents suggestions for clinical intervention.