PECULIARITIES OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH SCOLIOSIS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF TREATMENT

Abstract

Objectives. To study some peculiarities of psychophysiology of children and adolescents with scoliosis and to assess its dynamics after surgical treatment.

Material and Methods. Total of 58 patients with scoliosis of grade III–IV at the age of 10 to16 years were examined, out of them 17 were operated on by Cotrel – Dubousset technique. Control group consisted of 18 practically healthy individuals of similar age. Clinical, rontgenologic and psychophysiologic methods of analysis were used. Psychoemotional state was assessed by depression level, indexes of personal and reactive anxiety, and by patients’ attitude to their disease and vital functions. Psychovegetative reactivity was evaluated by oculocardiac, cardiac-sinus and celiac-plexus reflexes. The patients were examined three times: before operation, in six and twelve months after operation.

Results. Psychophysiologic status of children and adolescents with scoliosis essentially differs from that of normal ones. Psychoemotional disorders are characterized by a high level of depression, situational and personal anxiety, and by violation of social adaptation, and psychovegetative disorders – by increase in lability and reduction of reactivity of the vegetative nervous system.

Conclusion. It was revealed that the psychophysiologic status of children and adolescents with scoliosis has essential peculiarities. In the nearest postoperative period the positive dynamics is mainly seen in psychoemotional status, but psychovegetative state remain without any essential dynamics.