Psychological Effects of Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition that results in abnormal lateral or side-to-side curves in the spinal column. Although we all have some curvature in our spines, the curvature that occurs with scoliosis is extreme and needs to be corrected by "bracing." When a child has to endure bracing, it can cause great stress for him, which can affect the child psychologically.

History

• Scoliosis is more apt to occur in females but males can suffer from it too, according to the Mayo Clinic. This condition can be caused by cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, tumors, spinal muscular atrophy, neuromuscular problems, genetic problems and inequality in length of the limbs. However, its cause can also be idiopathic, which means there is no known reason for it. More than 80 percent of scoliosis cases are in this category. There are four kinds of scoliosis including infantile, which appears in children under the age of 3; juvenile, which crops up when a child is between the ages of 3 and 9; adolescent, which occurs when a child is 10 to 18 years old and adult, which occurs after the skeleton has matured.

Significance

• Patients who have scoliosis report that they are discriminated against because of their appearance, according to the American Academy of Orthotics and Prosthetics and a report by Cyndi Walker, Ph.D. Many expressed dissatisfaction with their appearance, although this dissatisfaction lessened over time.

Initiation

• When bracing is initiated, patients report discomfort, difficult breathing, soreness and skin irritation. Young girls who must wear a brace were found to socially withdraw and become depressed, anxious and fearful.

Effects

• Wearing a brace for treatment of scoliosis may result in poor self image, peer difficulty, low self- esteem, rebelliousness, anger, issues with drugs and alcohol and the patient may become suicidal. If the child doesn't wear his brace as he is supposed to, this can result in a poor outcome. However, adjusting to the brace proves very difficult for some patients.

Gender

• Boys and girls with scoliosis do not react exactly the same way although there are similarities, according to the American Academy of Orthotics and Prosthetics. Boys are more likely to worry about peer relationships and whether their bodies are developing normally. Males have a greater alcohol consumption rate and are 10 times more likely to think about suicide than males who do not have scoliosis. Females that have scoliosis are also more likely to drink alcohol than their peers who aren't afflicted with this condition.

Facts

• Interestingly, a male with high self-esteem may indicate non-compliance when it comes to wearing the brace although females with high self-esteem are more apt to be compliant.

Considerations

• Iscoliosis.com notes that parents need to weigh the benefits and risks of part-time bracing in contrast to full-time bracing if their child is having grave difficulty adjusting. Adolescents tend to be rebellious in the first place so the issue with the brace may make them even more so. The parents need to figure out the best approach because complete non-compliance is not an option if the spine is to be corrected. Your child may benefit from going to a peer support group.