P-3-17-03
A Study of Acceptance of Disability by Institutionalized Patients
R. Hanakago, A. Takahashi, K. Kashiwagi, S. Okuda and S. Makita (Iwate Rehabilitation Center, Iwate Japan)
Abstract: Iwate Rehabilitation Center is a public institution that provides initial rehabilitation services for patients sequelae of cerebral apoplexy, traumas, and neurological disease and also conducts including education and research.
The process of disability acceptance consisting of the phases of shock, denial, confusion, exertion for problem solution, acceptance and coping has been advocated mainly from the standpoint of psychology.
An investigation of disability acceptance was made by interviewing or questionnaire in 70 patients. Basically, the above process of disability acceptance holds true from a purely psychological viewpoint, but more complicated factors conspire to compound the problem in clinical settings.
The type and severity of disability naturally governs acceptance. If distress such as pain is prolonged or else problems arise as to compensation by assaulters, acceptance becomes difficult. Nationality, religion, culture, and age are naturally factors involved in acceptance of disability.
P-3-17-04
SUBJECTIVE HAPPINESS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION IN SLE AND CGN
Etsuko Maeshima, Yoichi Yamada, Masatoshi Mune, Susumu Yukawa (Third Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical College, Wakayama, Japan)
We examined the relationship between subjective happiness and psychological condition to determine which factors affect the quality of life (QOL) in 18 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These patients were compared with 18 patients with chronic glomerular nephritis (CGN); the two groups were matched for age, sex and steroid dosage. The patients were evaluated using a morale scale which is a standard method of evaluating subjective happiness in relation to QOL. Levels of anxiety and depression were evaluated using the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) of Spielberger and the self-rating depression scale (SDS) of Zung. We examined the relationship between the scores on the morale scale and the scores on STAI and SDS. The relationship between the morale scale scores and age, period of disease, steroid dose and activity were also investigated. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of morale scale, STAI and SDS scores, and there were no significant correlations between the scores on the morale scale and age, period of disease and steroid dose in either group. There were correlations between subjective happiness (as measured with the morale scale) and state and trait anxiety in the group with SLE, and between subjective happiness and trait anxiety in the group with CGN. We concluded that anxiety appears to decrease the quality of life in patients with SLE and CGN.
