Spinal cord lesions: coping and mood states

Forty-two patients with spinal cord lesions were asked to fill out the Amsterdam Mood Questionnaire in order to ascertain whether this group of patients with reduced sensorimotor capacities would show a deviant pattern of moods. An overall reduction in mood state levels had to be expected for these patients on the basis of various emotion theories, and various theories about the psychological consequences of severe handicaps. The various mood state levels for these patients did not differ from those for the norm group, with the exception of the mood state 'fatigued'. It is concluded that spinal cord lesions do not affect mood states in a direct way. Success or failure in coping with the lesion-induced handicap does, however, effect mood state levels. Failure in coping is related to depression and an accentuation of negative moods, whereas successful coping is related to lack of depression and an accentuation of positive moods. The results of this study indicate that the theories mentioned need reconsideration as do the therapeutic strategies based upon them.