Psychologic prediction of duration of inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation and performance of self-care.

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Derogatis Symptom Check List (SCL-90) and a short form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-168) were administered to 28 spinal cord injury (SCI) patients on admission to an inpatient rehabilitation program. Of the several psychologic measures derived from this battery of tests, measures of distress/depression predicted both duration of inpatient rehabilitation and performance of self-care of bladder and skin at discharge. Based on follow-up an average of 7 months post-discharge, the best predictor of future self-care behavior seems to be past self-care behavior, augmented by knowledge of personality tendencies. Results emphasize the importance of minimizing patient distress during SCI inpatient rehabilitation and suggest that, for some patients, psychologic intervention following discharge directed at modifying certain personality features may facilitate continued performance of critical self-care behaviors.