Significance of the significant other

Patients with spinal cord injury or acquired brain injury often receive rehabilitation treatment. Treatment is mainly aimed to optimize independent functioning, and to learn how to cope with the new situation. There is relatively little attention for psychosocial support for patients and their significant others. This is shown by the research of Eline Scholten. Psychosocial problems are common among patients and their significant others, also on the long term. Examples of commonly reported psychosocial problems are feelings of anxiety, depression and problems in family functioning. In particular attention for the challenges and problems of the significant others is limited in rehabilitation, while well-being of significant others is crucial for patients.
Some psychological factors appeared to be related to later psychosocial problems. Patients or significant others having symptoms of anxiety and depression already at the start of inpatient rehabilitation are more at risk for later psychosocial problems. Screening such factors among patients and significant others may help to identify them early during inpatient rehabilitation. This insight helps healthcare professionals to tailor care to individual needs of patients and significant others. Screening of patients and significant others can be implemented quite easily, for example by asking them to complete a short questionnaire shortly after the start of inpatient rehabilitation.