RESUMEN
The prevalence of psychological problems in rehabilitation patients was assessed, using the General Health Questionnaire-28, Thai version (Thai GHQ-28) and the Barthel Index score for the assessment of functional ability in self care. One-hundred and thirteen subjects; 55 men and 58 women with an average age of 38.8 ฑ 17.2 years (min, max = 10, 83) were studied. The average score of Thai GHQ-28 and Barthel score were 7.0 ฑ 5.8 and 52.6 ฑ 34.1 respectively, and the prevalence of psychological problems was 53.98 percent. Patients paralysed following accidents had higher Thai GHQ-28 scores and lower Barthel scores than patients with chronic illness. The functional ability score was the only factor that related to the prevalence. Psychological problems are common in the medical illness patient group, especially in the permanently disabled subjects. The Thai GHQ-28 can be used as a screening test in the early detection and treatment of psychological problems in relabilitation patients.
RESUMEN
The study of psychological distress: anxiety and depression, in 44 spinal cord injured patients was performed by using the Thai Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at admission and before discharge. The average score of anxiety and depression decreased while the barthel index score increased significantly. The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 18.2 and 13.6 percent respectively and there was tendency to decline which implied that psychological conditions of SCI patients can be changed over time. The functional ability is not the only variable affecting psychological conditions. The process of adjustment is complex and individual.