Psychological adjustment to injury and acute trauma

Abstract

Man lives in an ever-changing environment. To maintain a relative state of psychological homeostasis essential for optimal functioning man has to learn how to adapt effectively to the manifold demands made on him by the complex social system in which he lives in. For any adaptive behaviour to be maximally successful a person has to possess clear insights into his capacities, values and self-concept. A simple personality model is outlined to elucidate psychological adaptive behaviour processes and to illustrate what impact injury and acute trauma can have on a person’s functioning. In order to make treatment more incisive physiotherapists have to be aware of the psychological adjustments required to cope with injury and acute trauma. Implications are discussed.