Can-SCIP Coach App
  1. Can-SCIP
  2. Recommendations
  3. Guidelines
  4. Section 2 - MANAGEMENT OF SCI COMPLICATIONS

O - EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING




Screen all patients for ASD within 1 month of SCI and for PTSD after the first month. Screening should occur:

  1. early during an initial inpatient hospital or rehabilitation stay
  2. as a repeat screen if indicated to assess persistence of symptoms or change in status
  3. at the first post-discharge follow-up point
  4. at future time points beyond 6 months, depending on risk stratification factors, such as being a veteran or other trauma-exposed professional or having subthreshold symptom severity on prior screening examinations.
(PVA-EWB 2020, p.162; Level C)
Refer patients with positive screen results or those suspected of having ASD or PTSD to a mental health provider for a diagnostic assessment of ASD or PTSD criteria. (PVA-EWB 2020, p.162; Level C)
Support patients with PTSD with nonspecific and PTSD-specific relationship skills used by all health care professionals (physicians, nurses, therapists, psychologists, social workers, and others) who work with them. (PVA-EWB 2020, p.162; Level C)
Treat ASD and PTSD within rehabilitation to the extent possible by using pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches on the basis of treatment efficacy, clinical presentation (e.g., comorbid conditions), length of stay, and patient preferences. (PVA-EWB 2020, p.162; Level C)
Offer patients with brief, evidence-based psychological interventions to treat ASD and prevent PTSD within the first month after injury. (PVA-EWB 2020, p.162; Level C)
Offer patients with PTSD evidence-based, trauma-focused psychological treatment. (PVA-EWB 2020, p.162; Level C)
Offer patients with ASD pharmacological treatment if trauma-focused psychotherapies are not available or not preferred. (PVA-EWB 2020, p.162; Level C)
Offer patients with PTSD pharmacological treatment if trauma-focused psychotherapies are not available or not preferred. (PVA-EWB 2020, p.162; Level C)