Abstract
Orthopedic rehabilitation programs utilizing a multidisciplinary approach invite a greater appreciation for the factors which influence the recovery process. This study evaluated variables associated with the psychosocial adjustment of work hardening program participants when exposed to Solution-Focused psychotherapy. Orthopedic patients receiving workers’ compensation were engaged in a work hardening program in which they received either Solution-Focused therapy or the standard rehabilitation protocol. Patients and spouses completed questionnaires designed to evaluate psychosocial coping and adjustment to a medical condition. Patients across all investigated orthopedic categories demonstrated enhanced adjustment to their condition when treatment groups were compared with control groups. It is proposed that Solution-Focused therapy, in conjunction with work hardening protocols, is effective for patients when developing effective coping responses to the stressors associated with orthopedic rehabilitation.
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Cockburn, J.T., Thomas, F.N. & Cockburn, O.J. Solution-focused therapy and psychosocial adjustment to orthopedic rehabilitation in a work hardening program. J Occup Rehab 7, 97–106 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02765880
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02765880