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The Experience of Four Individuals with Paraplegia Enrolled in an Outpatient Interdisciplinary Sexuality Program

Sexuality and Disability volume 25, pages 189–195 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Spinal cord injury has a significant impact on an individual’s physical, emotional, as well as sexual functioning. Four consecutive males with spinal cord injury were referred to the outpatient spinal cord injury sexuality program at an urban Veterans Affairs Medical Center and seen by an interdisciplinary team comprised of a nurse, physician and psychologist. They felt that their questions had been answered and their emotional well-being had been appropriately addressed in a respectful environment and effective process. Results suggest that availability of continued access to counseling regarding sexually related issues is very important and that patients can benefit from an interdisciplinary approach in addressing functional and emotional needs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spinal Cord Injury Service (SCI #128), VA Boston Healthcare System, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA, 02132, USA

    Marika J. Hess, Sigmund Hough & Elizabeth Tammaro

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Marika J. Hess & Sigmund Hough

  3. Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA, USA

    Sigmund Hough

Authors
  1. Marika J. Hess
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  2. Sigmund Hough
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  3. Elizabeth Tammaro
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Correspondence to Marika J. Hess.

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Hess, M.J., Hough, S. & Tammaro, E. The Experience of Four Individuals with Paraplegia Enrolled in an Outpatient Interdisciplinary Sexuality Program. Sex Disabil 25, 189–195 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-007-9055-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-007-9055-7

Keywords

  • Spinal cord injury
  • Paraplegia
  • Sexuality program
  • Interdisciplinary