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Study Design: Longitudinal, multi-wave panel design.

Objectives: To explore the changes in and the relationships between appraisals and coping with mood, functioning and quality of life pre and post rehabilitation for acute spinal cord injury.

Setting: The data collected was part of an ongoing study from specialist units in selected British, Swiss, German, and Irish spinal cord injury centres.

Method: Questionnaires (Functional Independence, Quality of Life, Mood, Appraisals, Coping & Support) were administered to 232 patients at 12 weeks post injury and sent to participants at 1 and 2 years post injury by post.

Results: Significant changes were observed in various outcome measures between 12 weeks and 1 year post injury, with little significant change occurring during the following year. Appraisals and coping at 12 weeks post injury were significantly related to outcome scores and also contributed significantly to the variance in quality of life, mood, and stress related growth at 2 years post injury.

Conclusion:  The study provides further evidence for the link between appraisals, coping and subsequent adjustment to injury. Suggestion is made for the potential benefit of early assessment and intervention for patients at risk of poor adjustment to SCI.