These results confirm the findings of the pilot study, that the CET intervention facilitated a significant improvement in psychological adjustment to spinal cord injury. It is proposed that this improvement may be understood in terms of changing participants' negative appraisals of the implications of spinal cord injury with the result of increasing the perceived manageability of its consequences. Such decatastrophizing alters appraisals which are associated with current mood. Participants found shared discussion and problem-solving to be particularly helpful. Avenues for further research are discussed.

The findings of this study demonstrate that the Needs Assessment and Goal Planning framework is effective in planning SCI rehabilitation. The capacity of this goal planning system to reflect individual need has also been established. Further systematic analyses of this process could potentially lead to more efficient rehabilitation and the identification of care pathways within clinical areas.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was ®rst recognised by psychiatric international classi®cation systems in 1980 and a wealth of research and treatment literature has developed since. This paper provides a review of PTSD and Spinal Cord Injuries. A brief history of the disorder is provided before descriptions of the de®ning characteristics, assessment and dierential diagnoses. The paper provides an overview of the incidence and prevalence of PTSD and risk factors within the general population, before considering both veteran and non-veteran research within spinal cord injuries. Pharmacological and psychological approaches to the treatment of PTSD are also discussed. The review closes with recommendations for future research into the prevalence and treatment of PTSD in spinal cord injuries.

Study design: Cross-sectional; questionnaire. Objective: To compare the differences in life satisfaction, quality, value and meaning of life, and mood between Chinese and British people with tetraplegia after the completion of rehabilitation. This study was undertaken at the China Rehabilitation Research Centre, Beijing, China and the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, United Kingdom. Method: Self-report questionnaires were completed by 44 people with tetraplegia; 22 from China and 22 from the United Kingdom. The results of life satisfaction, quality, value and meaning of life, anxiety and depression were analysed. Results: The British group were significantly more satisfied than the Chinese group with their vocational situation, their financial situation and their family life. The British group was more positive than the Chinese group towards the value they placed on their life and had lower mood scores. No significant differences were identified between the two groups in life as a whole, self-care, leisure situation, sexual life, partnership relations, contact with friends, meaning of life and quality of life. Conclusion: To improve the value placed on life by people with tetraplegia in China, a future emphasis of rehabilitation should include addressing vocational, financial and family-life issues.

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