This article is part of the supplement: 6th International Conference on Conservative Management of Spinal Deformities .

Oral presentation

Treatment of psychological disturbances in scoliosis patients treated with a brace

A Levytskyi¹ , S Yaroslavska¹, D Chekryzhev², K Ryhlevskiy³, E Meshkova⁴, A Bebeshko⁴, V Plyatsek⁴ and A Velikiy⁴

¹  National Medical University, Ukraine

²  "Orthospine" Kharkiv, Ukraine

³  "Oerthotech Service GBMH" Kyiv, Ukraine

⁴  Central Ukrainian Pediatric Hospital 17 Dragomanova Street, apt.171, 02068, Ukraine

author email corresponding author email

from 6th International Conference on Conservative Management of Spinal Deformities
Lyon, France. 21-23 May 2009

Scoliosis 2009, 4(Suppl 2):O21doi:10.1186/1748-7161-4-S2-O21

The electronic version of this abstract is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/content/4/S2/O21

Published:

14 December 2009

© 2009 Levytskyi et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Background

In spite of a positive attitude towards brace treatment, some scoliosis patients have psychological stress during the initial bracing phase. Even when the curve correction is good, the patient may have a bad clinical outcome because of the psychological stress they have undergone. This situation may result in the psychosomatic illness.

Objective

To study psychological disturbances in patients with scoliosis during their brace treatment.

Materials and methods

We studied the clinical outcomes in 380 consecutive scoliosis patients (age range 10 to 18 years old) treated using a Cheneau brace. Psychological, psychosomatic and psycho-physiological symptoms were analyzed. Psychological therapy included cognitive and expositional therapy, art-therapy and group therapy. The psychological assessment was performed using a questionnaire before and after brace treatment.

Results

Psychological symptoms were found in 79.3% of patients; psychosomatic symptoms were found in 34.1% of patients; and 45.5% of patients had psycho-physiological symptoms. Psychological therapy reduced these symptoms in 73.5% patients.

Conclusion

Psychological and emotional disturbances may impact the clinical outcome in patients with scoliosis treated with a corrective brace. Appropriate treatment of these symptoms allows the symptoms to be reduced, and improves the quality of life and the treatment outcomes.

Have something to say? Post a comment on this article!