Psychological wellbeing among carers of people with spinal cord injury: a preliminary investigation from South India.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study that assessed people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their carers who attended the 3-day health care program.

Objectives: The study examined the nature and prevalence of the factors associated with psychological morbidity among carers of people with SCI.

Setting: A community reintegrated population of persons with SCI and their carers attended the 3-day program in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Christian Medical College Hospitals, Vellore, South India.

Methods: Thirty-eight people with SCI and their carers participated in this cross-sectional study.

Results: Thirty (78.9%) carers of people with SCI were psychologically distressed. While carers were distressed, they were not significantly depressed. Educational level of carers and suicidal behavior of people with SCI were significantly associated with psychological distress.

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that health care workers should have a high index of suspicion of psychological morbidity, in carers of people with SCI. Identification of risk factors may lead to useful target interventions.