sodium-ethylxanthate and Spinal-Cord-Injuries

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Neural Pathways; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries

A theme of this article is that sexuality is a broad concept that includes perceptions of one's self as male or female as well as sexual drives and behaviors, which are influenced by personal, societal, and cultural factors. Disability has demonstrable impact on sexuality and must be taken into account by nurses concerned with rehabilitative approaches to clients with disabilities. Self-assessment by professionals of their attitudes and feelings about sexuality was encouraged. Some strategies were offered by which nurses can define and identify their level of involvement in the sexual counseling of disabled clients. Assessment and information for selected interventions were discussed, as were emerging issues requiring further exploration. The nurse's role as it relates to sexuality in persons with disabilities is to assist clients to find, implement, and integrate their beliefs and behaviors into a healthy and satisfying lifestyle.

Topics: Adult; Contraception; Disabled Persons; Female; Humans; Male; Nursing Assessment; Sex; Sex Counseling; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Asthma; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coitus; Counseling; Diabetes Complications; Disabled Persons; Erectile Dysfunction; Female; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Male; Pregnancy; Sex; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Spinal Cord Injuries

A person's sexual readjustment following a physical disability has traditionally been ignored by health care professionals. Since the occupational therapist often facilitates a person's resumption of activities of daily living, the therapist is in a special position to provide counseling. Understanding, support, and correct information are needed most. As derived from a search of the literature, sexual functioning is discussed in relation to the following disabilities: stroke, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, renal disease, spinal cord injury, pulmonary disease, arthritis, and alcoholism.

Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Asthma; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Coitus; Diabetes Mellitus; Disabled Persons; Ejaculation; Erectile Dysfunction; Female; Heart Diseases; Humans; Libido; Male; Multiple Sclerosis; Orgasm; Sex; Sexual Behavior; Spinal Cord Injuries; Testis; Vagina

Topics: Body Image; Counseling; Female; Humans; Male; Paraplegia; Self Concept; Sex; Sex Factors; Sexual Behavior; Social Adjustment; Spinal Cord Injuries

To compare the physiologic sexual responses of women with incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCIs) with and without preservation of the ability to perceive T11-L2 pinprick sensation.. Controlled laboratory-based analysis of responses to varying combinations of audiovisual erotic stimulation, manual genital stimulation, and performance of a distracting task coupled with manual genital stimulation.. The sexual physiology laboratory at our freestanding rehabilitation hospital.. A volunteer sample of 17 women with incomplete SCIs.. Two 78-minute protocols using 6-minute baselines alternating with 12-minute testing conditions. One protocol was designed to study the effects of psychogenic and psychogenic combined with manual sexual stimulation, while the other was designed to examine the effects of genital sexual stimulation performed in conjunction with a distracting task.. Vaginal pulse amplitude, subjective arousal, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.. Subjective arousal increased in both groups of subjects with isolated audiovisual erotic stimulation; however, only those subjects with the ability to perceive T11-L2 pinprick sensation had concomitant increases in vaginal pulse amplitude. In contrast, when manual genital stimulation was added to the audiovisual erotic stimulation, both groups of subjects developed increases in vaginal pulse amplitude, whereas only those subjects with the ability to perceive T11-L2 demonstrated a further increase in their level of subjective arousal. Performance of manual genital stimulation in conjunction with a distracting task resulted in significantly increased vaginal pulse amplitude and arousal level only in those subjects with preservation of the ability to perceive T11-L2 pinprick sensation. With the changeover to masturbation, neither group of subjects developed significant increases in vaginal pulse amplitude. During masturbation, both groups of subjects had increases in their level of sexual arousal; however, only those subjects with T11-L2 pinprick preservation had a significant increase.. Women with preservation of the ability to perceive T11-L2 pinprick sensation tended to maintain the ability for psychogenic genital vasocongestion. Psychogenic protocol results showed that all subjects appeared to develop reflex genital vasocongestion when manual stimulation was added to audiovisual erotic stimulation. Manual genital stimulation in conjunction with the performance of a distracting task only resulted in increased vaginal pulse amplitudes in those subjects with preservation of T11-L2 pinprick sensation. We believe that this was due to increased subjective sexual arousal and that the reason all subjects did not develop increased genital vasocongestion under these conditions was due to poor hand function. Further research examining women with lower levels of SCI is necessary to understand the neurophysiology of female sexual response after SCI.

Topics: Adult; Anal Canal; Arousal; Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; Electromyography; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; Female; Humans; Masturbation; Neurologic Examination; Orgasm; Physical Examination; Physical Stimulation; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries; Vagina

This study compared the emotional and sexual aspects of relationships before and after spinal cord injury, from the partner's point of view. In addition, the personality characteristics of the partners were investigated. Twenty-six relationships were established before the injury and 23 after. The couples in preinjury relationships had been married or cohabiting for 3.5-51 years (median 24 years), while postinjury relationships ranged from 1 to 8 years (median 2 years). There were substantial differences in age between preinjury and postinjury partners, 21-79 years (median 51 years) and 18-45 years (median 28 years), respectively. Data collection included an 80-item questionnaire, designed to determine different aspects of sexuality, a visual analogue scale Quality of Life (VAS QL) measure and an established inventory of personality characteristics, the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP). Eighty-eight per cent of the partners in preinjury and 86% in postinjury relationships considered their overall relationship to be satisfactory. Concerning the sexual aspects of the relationships, several differences were revealed, all favouring postinjury relationships. Some of these held true even when age was treated as a significant factor and statistically controlled. Although the frequency of sexual activity and the variety of sexual expressions used were lower in the preinjury relationships, and perceived deterioration of sex life due to the injury was higher among preinjury partners, there was no significant difference between the two groups in satisfaction with current sex life. Thus, age seems to be a more important factor for sexual adjustment after a spinal cord injury, rather than whether the relationship is established before or after injury. The partners' personality characteristics differed only slightly from those of a sex and age matched reference group and not at all between partners in pre- and postinjury relationships.

Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Aged; Emotions; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Personality; Quality of Life; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries; Surveys and Questionnaires

To observe the trends in vital capacity (VC) over time in tetraplegics 20 years and more after injury, the effects of age at injury, severity of injury and gender on this trend.. The medical records of all spinal cord injured persons admitted to a regional spinal injury center from January 1960 to December 1996 were reviewed. Fifty-seven patients had documented post-rehabilitation VC (mean 1.3+/-1.1 years) and VC at 10 (mean 11.8+/-2.69) and 20 (20.60+/-2.67) years post injury and beyond.. The mean age at injury was 23.2+/-9.1 years. Severity of injury when classified according the system proposed by Coll et al were: Group 1: C1-4 Frankel A injury: 11.6%, Group 2: C5-8 Frankel A injury: 55.6%, Group 3: C2-8 Frankel B and C: 29.8% and Group 4: C2-8 Frankel D: 3.5% respectively. The mean VC at initial, 10 and 20 years post injury was 2586+/-948, 2803+/-940 and 2525+/-818 cc respectively. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that there was significant difference in VC over a 20 year period, (F(2,54)=8.43, P<0.05). The difference between VC at 10 years and VC at 20 years accounted for the 19.8% of the variance in VC over time (F(1,55)=12.35, P<0.05). Age at injury, gender and severity of injury did not have a significant influence on the rate of decline in VC. Analysis of a subset of 26 patients who were followed up more than 20 years post injury (range 22 to 34.5 years) revealed similar, with a greater drop in the VC from 10 years post injury (F(1,23)=6.52, P<0.05). In this subset of patients, the mean VC at initial injury was 2840.9+/-847.3 cc, at 10 years was 2549.6+/-750.3 cc, at 20 years was 2400.9+/-724.1 cc and beyond 20 years was 2194.2+/-738.7 cc. There was no significant difference in mean VC between non smokers and ex/current smokers at initial, 10 and 20 years post injury, using the independent t-test (P>0.05).. Vital capacity in tetraplegics declines significantly over the years, with a greater decline occurring at more than 20 years post injury.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age of Onset; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Pneumonia; Pulmonary Ventilation; Quadriplegia; Respiration; Sex; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Smoking; Spinal Cord Injuries; Tracheal Stenosis; Tracheotomy; Vital Capacity

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to identify the underlying dimensions of subjective well-being after spinal cord injury (SCI), and (2) to develop reliable scales based on measurement of these dimensions.. A field study was conducted by surveying the subjective well-being of two large samples of participants with SCI. Principal axis factor analysis with varimax rotation was applied to participant responses to 50 subjective well-being items.. All participants were selected from the outpatient files of two midwestern rehabilitation hospitals and from a large southeastern rehabilitation hospital.. There were a total of 1,032 participants, 435 from the Midwest and 597 from the Southeast.. The Life Situation Questionnaire-revised version (LSQ-R) was used to measure subjective well-being. It included two prominent sections, one for life satisfaction (20 items) and the other for self-reported problems (30 items).. Seven subjective well-being factor scales were identified across the full participant sample: Engagement, Negative Affect, Health Problems, Career Opportunities, Finances, Living Circumstances, and Interpersonal Relations. The average alpha coefficient was .86 for the factor scales. Separate analyses of the midwestern and southeastern samples suggested stability of the factor structure, although gender and race/ ethnicity were related to subtle differences in subjective well-being.. The results suggest that rehabilitation professionals need to pay attention to multiple aspects of subjective well-being after SCI.

Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Affect; Employment; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Midwestern United States; Minority Groups; Morbidity; Personal Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Sex; Southeastern United States; Spinal Cord Injuries; Surveys and Questionnaires; White People

The purposes of this study were to assess the quality of marital life and to investigate the most serious problem in the marital relationships of Korean spinal cord injured patients. 30 spinal cord injured (SCI) couples (SCI husbands and their non-disabled wives) who were married prior to injury and 30 able-bodied (AB) couples participated in a questionnaire study. The quality of marital life was measured with three parameters: marital stability, marital adjustment, and marital satisfaction. The results were as follows: (1) The marriage of chronic SCI couples was not noticeably unstable when compared with that of AB couples; (2) There was no significant difference in dyadic adjustment and marital satisfaction between SCI couples and AB couples; (3) There was no significant difference in marital stability, marital adjustment, and marital satisfaction between SCI husbands and their wives; (4) SCI couples had more cohesive marital relationships and SCI husbands expressed less affection to their wives than AB husbands and (5) Sex was the most serious problem in marriages of SCI couples.. (1) the quality of marital life in chronic SCI couples is not highly different from that of AB couples; (2) There is no significant difference in the quality of marital life between chronic SCI husbands and their non-disabled wives; and (3) It is considered necessary that rehabilitation program for SCI patients should include information on the altered physiology of sexual function of SCI patients and subsequent mutual adaptation to changed sexual function.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Korea; Male; Marriage; Personal Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Sex; Social Adjustment; Spinal Cord Injuries

All traumatic SCI patients in Iceland come to the Neurosurgical Department of Borgarspítalinn, the City Hospital in Reykjavík for their initial treatment. From 1973-1989, 79 (93%) were rehabilitated at Borgarspítalinn. The purpose of this study was to look at the most common complications and the social functions of SCI patients after discharge from the Rehabilitation Department. A questionnaire was sent to 59 of the 79 patients. They represent almost the whole population of the spinal cord injured population in Iceland. Forty-five patients (76.3%) answered the questionnaire, 69% male, 31% female. Sixty-seven percent were under the age of 30 years at the time of injury. Twenty-nine percent had a complete spinal cord injury; 53.3% were wheelchairbound (Frankel grade A, B, C); 55.6% were quadriplegic, and 44.4% paraplegic. The commonest complications were pain (64.4%), urinary tract infections (62.2%) and spasticity (60%); and 58% of the wheelchairbound patients had had pressure sores. Fifty-five point five percent were married; 71% had an active sexual life after the injury; 54% of the wheelchairbound patients were not quite independent and required some assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) tasks; and 29% were not working or studying compared to 11%, who were, before the injury. No significant changes were seen in social function after the injury. The results show that more emphasis must be placed on the prevention of complications such as urinary tract infections and pressure sores and on the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity.

Topics: Accidental Falls; Accidents, Traffic; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Education; Employment; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Housing; Humans; Iceland; Male; Marriage; Middle Aged; Muscle Spasticity; Pressure Ulcer; Self Care; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Urinary Tract Infections

Thirty-eight spinal cord injured (SCI) males (median age = 26) completed an 80-item multiple choice questionnaire (median 37 months postinjury) which assessed sexual functioning pre- and post-spinal cord injury in four areas: (i) sexual activities and preferences, (ii) sexual abilities, (iii) sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction, and, (iv) sexual adjustment. Frequency of sexual activity decreased following SCI with a reduction in intercourse and increased interest in alternative sexual activities. Of complete quadriplegic subjects 38% reported the ability to have an orgasm accompanied by ejaculation underscoring the need for physiological studies. Partner's desire for sex as perceived by the SCI individual was correlated with frequency of sex and numbers of sexual partners postinjury. Subject's perceptions of their own and partner's sexual desire decreased following SCI. Sexual satisfaction decreased postinjury and was positively correlated with both the patients' and their partners' interest in penile-vaginal intercourse. Of the subjects, 27% reported sexual adjustment difficulties and 74% relationship difficulties but only 22% received counseling. Results indicate the importance of the availability and desire of a sexual partner in the sexual activities and satisfaction of the SCI individual. SCI patient and staff sexual education and counseling continue to be strong needs.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Paraplegia; Quadriplegia; Sex; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Spinal Cord Injuries

Thirty-one former patients were contacted 6 mo after their completion of a spinal cord injury rehabilitation program: 14, paraplegics; 8, complete quadriplegics; 9, incomplete quadriplegics. Mean age was 38.5 yr. Most respondents were living in a family setting. Income ranged from substantial to barely adequate. Half of the respondents needed no assistance with activities of daily living; for the others, family members were the primary helpers. Almost all described their social contacts as sufficient for their needs. Half had not needed to use community resources for the disabled; the others had used a range of resources. Two respondents were employed, four were in school, six others had plans for eventual employment. Neither extent of disability nor income seemed related to likelihood of entering the workforce. Most respondents reported frequent local travel; some had traveled extensively. The large majority engaged in one or more hobbies and/or physical activities. Just over half of the respondents had had no sexual activity after discharge. Of the sexually active, half had found the experience frustrating. Except for the 30- to 39-yr-old respondents, the majority expressed satisfaction with most aspects of their lives.

Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Attitude; Community Health Services; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Income; Life Style; Male; Middle Aged; Sex; Social Support; Spinal Cord Injuries; Veterans

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Genitalia, Male; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Penile Erection; Sex; Skin Temperature; Spinal Cord Injuries; Surveys and Questionnaires

Topics: Body Image; Humans; Sex; Sex Counseling; Spinal Cord Injuries

A questionnaire study of 122 married individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) revealed a number of differences between the marriages that took place after the onset of disability and those that had occurred earlier. The two groups were equivalent in terms of severity and duration of disability, but those married before SCI were older. ANCOVA was used in most analyses to control for age at the time of injury and at present. Those married after injury reported greater satisfaction with their sex lives, living arrangements, social lives, health, emotional adjustment, and control over their lives, and they indicated that loneliness was less of a problem. They were also far more likely to be working and to be socially active outside their homes.

Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Age Factors; Female; Humans; Life Style; Loneliness; Male; Marriage; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries; Work

Sexuality is often overlooked in rehabilitation of the handicapped. These patients need a family physician who can offer constructive help without being embarrassed or awkward. Awareness that sexuality encompasses more than physical attractiveness and penile-vaginal intercourse, use of sexual imagery and concentration on body areas that retain sensation are essential in the sexual rehabilitation of handicapped patients. Rehabilitation is more likely to succeed when the patient has a supportive sexual partner.

Topics: Adult; Coitus; Female; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Orgasm; Prostheses and Implants; Rehabilitation; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries

The present study examined marital characteristics of couples who are coping successfully with spinal cord injury (SCI) versus those who are not and the relationship of positive marital adjustment in SCI couples as compared with positive adjustment among able-bodied (AB) couples. In a 2 X 2 factorial design the marital relations of 10 nondistressed and 10 distressed SCI couples and 14 nondistressed and 10 distressed AB couples were examined. Assessments were conducted in the couples' homes and included self-report measures of recreational-social activities and sexual relations, and observations of marital communication skills. Multivariate analyses revealed significant interaction effect with posthoc comparisons, indicating that spouses in distressed SCI marriages engaged in significantly fewer activities alone and with their spouse and requested the greatest degree of change in the marital relationship in comparison with the other groups. There was a significant main effect for marital satisfaction, with distressed couples expressing more dissatisfaction in sexual relations and more negative communications during conflict resolution tasks. Although the results do not indicate that substantive differences exist in quantitative and qualitative aspects of marital relations between SCI and AB couples, several trends were observed which suggest the need for further research.

Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Communication; Female; Humans; Male; Marriage; Recreation; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries

The individual who sustains a spinal cord injury resulting in traumatic quadriplegia experiences a drastic alteration in his lifestyle from both physiological and psychological perspectives. The effects of spinal cord injury on a patient's sexuality will be explored according to Carrera's rule for optimum sexual functioning: all systems go, a positive self-image, and nurturing environment.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Nursing Assessment; Nursing Process; Quadriplegia; Self Concept; Sex; Sex Education; Spinal Cord Injuries

Rehabilitation and long-term care of the spinal cord injured adult must be oriented toward prevention, be patient and family centered, and transcend all geographic settings. The nurse is a key coordinator and provider of care, as well as a facilitator of patient adaptation. The nurse involved in the care of the spinal cord injured adult must be knowledgeable in the rehabilitation and long-term care considerations essential to the reintegration and well-being of this population.

Topics: Defecation; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Long-Term Care; Patient Care Planning; Respiration; Self Care; Self Concept; Sex; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Spinal Cord Injuries; Urination

Since 1981, forty spinal cord-injured patients have received penile prostheses using a combined approach of early sexual counselling during the acute rehabilitative phase of injury, followed by implantation in suitable candidates no less than nine to twelve months following injury. Early counselling is begun in private and group sessions, and stresses reassessment of body image, sexuality and sexual alternatives. The penile prosthesis is mentioned briefly during the acute phase of rehabilitation. Further counselling at the patient's request following discharge from the unit identifies those patients with continued interest in a penile prosthesis. Suitable surgical candidates must have a stable bladder program, have had a recent urologic X-ray evaluation, have sterile urine at the time of implantation, and be free of decubiti. All preoperative patients undergo MMPI testing and are seen by a sexual counsellor. Both the semi-rigid and inflatable penile prostheses are offered to the patient with a thorough discussion along with printed material on the advantages and disadvantages of each prosthesis, as well as surgical and postoperative complications. Patients are given a preoperative parenteral antibiotic regimen along with supervised antibiotic cleansing of the genitalia. Surgical techniques for each prosthesis is discussed. Following surgery, the patients are continued on antibiotics and are instructed not to engage in intercourse for six weeks. They are also seen by a sexual counsellor postoperatively. There have been a total of forty implantations; thirty-four patients having had semi-rigid implants and six inflatable prostheses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Adult; Body Image; Counseling; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Penis; Prostheses and Implants; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Sex; Sex Education; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Sex; Sex Education; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Spinal Cord Injuries

Fifty men with spinal cord injuries (SCI) were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their sexuality before and after injury. Medical examination confirmed the location and completeness of the injury and extracted information about genitourologic status. The respondents rated sexuality highly as a concern in living, and a wide variety of sexual techniques were reported. A marked decrease in sexual activity, satisfaction, and feelings of sexual adequacy was reported after injury, as compared to retrospective "before injury" responses, lack of opportunity being reported as causative by 66% of the subjects and insufficient personal satisfaction by 59%. Seventy-five percent of the subjects experienced sexual arousal from genital stimulation, and several methods of eliciting erection were cited. Orgasm was described by a variety of terms. Significant differences were found between quadriplegic and paraplegic patients in answers to several items, though there was generally no difference between cervical and thoracic groups, which were more specifically broken down with respect to motor or sensory/complete or incomplete lesions. Plasma testosterone levels were found to fall well within the normal adult male range, as were levels of free testosterone and serum sex binding protein. The resulting information demonstrated more sexual concern among men with SCI than the literature previously indicated.

Topics: Adult; Attitude; Coitus; Ejaculation; Female; Humans; Libido; Male; Middle Aged; Orgasm; Penis; Sex; Sexual Behavior; Spinal Cord Injuries; Surveys and Questionnaires; Testosterone; Veterans

Topics: Adult; Counseling; Female; Humans; Labor, Obstetric; Male; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Care; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries; Urinary Tract Infections

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Counseling; Humans; Male; Neurologic Examination; Patient Education as Topic; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Body Image; Female; Fertility; Gender Identity; Humans; Male; Nursing Care; Self Concept; Sex; Sex Education; Sexual Behavior; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Paralysis; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Erectile Dysfunction; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Penis; Prostheses and Implants; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic; Urinary Catheterization

Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Nurse-Patient Relations; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Body Image; Emotions; Humans; Motivation; Psychological Tests; Rehabilitation, Vocational; Sex; Social Environment; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Coitus; Female; Genitalia, Male; Humans; Male; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries; Urinary Bladder; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic; Urinary Catheterization; Urinary Diversion; Urinary Tract Infections; Urination; Urination Disorders; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

Topics: Adult; Contraception; Counseling; Female; Humans; Male; Meningomyelocele; Sex; Sexual Behavior; Spinal Cord; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Counseling; Family; Humans; Love; Male; Quadriplegia; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cauda Equina; Coitus; Counseling; Ejaculation; Female; Humans; Male; Masturbation; Middle Aged; Neurologic Examination; Sex; Sexual Behavior; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Counseling; Female; Humans; Male; Paralysis; Reproduction; Sex; Sexual Behavior; Spinal Cord Injuries

A sex education and counseling program was designed for spinal cord-injured patients and their partners, and alternative approaches are briefly reviewed. Also notable is the importance of inservice training for staff working with the cord-injured.

Topics: Counseling; Female; Humans; Male; Sex; Sex Education; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Bradycardia; Coitus; Cordotomy; Divorce; Ejaculation; Female; Fertility; Humans; Labor, Obstetric; Male; Marriage; Nervous System Diseases; Paraplegia; Pregnancy; Sex; Spinal Cord Diseases; Spinal Cord Injuries; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Urinary Incontinence

Sexual functioning in patients with spinal cord injury has been the subject of considerable research interest in recent years. There have been numerous studies of both physiological and psychological aspects of sexual functioning, but only the physiological part of this literature has been organized in a systematic fashion. This paper reviews 33 articles that deal mainly or exclusively with psychosocial aspects of sexuality. It is observed that the psychosocial literature in this area is relatively diffuse, dealing with concepts that are inadequately specified and validated.

Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Body Image; Family Characteristics; Female; Humans; Male; Marriage; Self Concept; Sex; Sexual Behavior; Spinal Cord Injuries

Topics: Adult; Aging; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Female; Humans; Intelligence; Male; Middle Aged; MMPI; Multiple Sclerosis; Neurotic Disorders; Psychological Tests; Psychology; Sex; Spinal Cord Injuries