Study Design: Qualitative study. Objectives: To develop the knowledge base regarding women's experiences of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Setting: United Kingdom. Methods: Qualitative interviews with 10 women from four regional SCI rehabilitation centres were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to grounded theory. Results: The central psychosocial problem identified for women during SCI rehabilitation was vulnerability. Vulnerability was amplified by lack of privacy within the rehabilitation centre, by negative staff interactions (associated with perceived lack of control and lack of respect) and by women's minority status in the rehabilitation setting, which at times left women feeling marginalized and inferior. Vulnerability was contained by: negotiating privacy and space; receiving support and encouragement from staff, other patients and family; and by adopting a positive attitude. Conclusion: The SCI rehabilitation environment and interactions within it have the potential to influence significantly, either positively or negatively, women's feelings and behaviours as they begin to negotiate a revised identity as a disabled person. There is a need for further research to be carried out in this area in order that women's needs and concerns can be better understood and clinical practice developed accordingly.

Self-disclosure of experiences of mental health difficulties is a complex process, particularly within the workplace. Research shows that a significant number of trainee clinical psychologists have lived experience of mental health difficulties and thus face the dilemma of whether to disclose and how to manage self-disclosure during doctoral training. Grounded theory methodology was used to explore trainee experiences of self-disclosure of mental health difficulties during training. Twelve trainee clinical psychologists from accredited doctoral programmes in the United Kingdom participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences of disclosure. Six core categories emerged relating to 'motivations', 'enablers', 'barriers', 'features of disclosure', 'responses' and 'impact', each of which were comprised of several further sub-categories. The model that emerged is largely consistent with research on disclosure in healthcare professions and has implications for training programmes, supervisors and trainees when engaging in conversations about lived experience.

Experiencing spinal cord injury (SCI) can be life-changing for individuals and their families. Previous reviews have focused on coping and psychological adjustment, sexual function and sexuality or factors facilitating or impeding interpersonal relationships after SCI. However, there is very little synthesis of research focusing on changes to adult attachment and emotional intimacy post-SCI. This review aims to examine the mechanisms of change in adult attachment and intimacy in romantic relationships following SCI. Materials and methods: Four online databases (Psycinfo, Medline, CINAHL and Scopus) were searched for qualitative papers concerning romantic relationships, attachments and intimacy post-SCI. Sixteen of the 450 papers met inclusion criteria. These were quality assessed and analysed using meta-ethnography. Results: Three main themes emerged from the analysis: a) strengthening and maintaining adult attachment; b) changes in roles; and c) changing views of intimacy. Conclusion: Many couples face significant changes to adult attachment and intimacy following SCI. Systematic ethnographic analysis of their negotiations enabled the identification of underlying relational processes and adaptation strategies associated with changes to inter-dependence, communication, role revision and re-definition of intimacy. The findings indicate that healthcare providers should assess and respond to challenges faced by couples post-SCI using evidence consistent with adult attachment theory.

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