An older patient who is recovering from a spinal cord injury refuses to participate in any facility activities and refuses to leave the room when family visits. The occupational therapist is having difficulty getting the patient to participate in feeding and other upper extremity activities. What might be the cause of this type of behavior?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's refusal to participate in activities, reluctance to leave their room even for family visits, and lack of engagement in rehabilitation exercises like feeding and upper extremity activities could indicate depression. Depression is common in patients recovering from significant injuries or illnesses, especially those with life-altering conditions such as a spinal cord injury, due to the impact on their lifestyle, independence, and self-esteem.

An Older Patient Who Is Recovering from a Spinal Cord