Psychological aspects of treatment and rehabilitation of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: research analysis

Abstract

Idiopathic scoliosis is a common orthopedic disease of unknown etiology in childhood that limits the patient’s activity for a lifetime. Treatment of idiopathic scoliosis includes both conservative and surgical methods and requires psychological consideration, which is important for the rehabilitation of patient with chronic disease.
 Systematic research on the psychological aspects of the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with idiopathic scoliosis in the form of analysis allows us to evaluate the medical and psychological approaches to the problem and to identify the factors contributing to the successful adaptation of the patient to chronic disease situation.
 Methodology. We selected the articles related to the psychological aspects of scoliosis and its treatment between 2017 and 2018. The primary selection included 16 publications, of which 2 were survey studies. Earlier foreign and domestic publications were also included in the analysis in order to compare the changes in treatment and rehabilitation approaches.
 Literature analysis. Idiopathic scoliosis was considered as a risk factor for psychological discomfort in the forms of stress, negative emotions, anxiety, distortion of the image of “I,” reduced self-esteem, and communication problems. These increase the risk of mental disorders, such as depression, suicidal tendencies, and psychological disadaptation.
 Discussion. Analysis allows us to highlight the most important topics in the studies of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in recent years: topic on mental health/ill health in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), theme of the psychological component of pain, topic on clinical psychological and social psychological factors that determine the course of the disease of the patients with AIS, quality of life of a child or adolescent with AIS, issues of psychological resources for adaptation to a chronic disease, topic on parents’ perception of their child’s illness, and topic on the psychological accompaniment of patients suffering from AIS.
 Conclusions. A modern approach to the study of idiopathic scoliosis suggests a point of view from a biopsychosocial model of the disease; therefore, it is necessary to consider various factors affecting the patient’s quality of life, including the psychological component of the disease. Psychological support of the treatment should focus on the formation of the patient’s active position in relation to his or her own life and active coping strategies with chronic disease.

Prediction of the 3D Spinal Alignment from External Shape of the Back in AIS Patients Using Regression Model

“…If remained untreated or lately detected, AIS can lead to severe physical changes of the affected patients and to secondary symptoms such as chronic pain, irreversible pulmonary and heart dysfunctions [3], etc. Moreover, overall morphological imbalance of the trunk can cause frustration, avoidance, low self-esteem and other unhealthy psychological states of the patient [4]. Thus, it is of a crucial importance to detect AIS in the early stage and to treat it properly in order to reduce the deformity, stop further progression, and maintain lung and heart function, as well as to increase quality of life of patients and to prevent further clinical costs.…”

Temperament and character traits in young men diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis

“…Body shape disorder in idiopathic scoliosis can cause psychosocial problems such as dissatisfaction with the physical appearance (7), limitations in social activities (1), problems in parent and peer relationships (9), deterioration in body image, decrease in self-esteem (10) and decrease in quality of life (11).…”