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Sammanfattning

People with polio, spinal damage and cerebral palsy live longer these days than they used to and therefore develop late side-effects such as reduced muscle capacity, rapid exhaustion and pain. Apart from physical limitations, psychological and social problems often arise which, if the worst comes to the worst, can lead to the onset of a depression. The fact that a minor handicap seems to result in far more late-effects and problems of adjustment than major handicaps can, in a development psychological perspective, be explained through reference to differences in the identity formation process. People with minor disabilities manage all the same and develop a "normal" identity - unlike people with extensive disabilities. When late-effects come into play, the disabilities of the least handicapped become so debilitating that they no longer can maintain their view of themselves as "normal," which can cause the onset of a depression. It must therefore be recommended that even a minor disability is recognised as such. It is furthermore important that the rehab system does not have the best possible functional level as its sole objective, but that it also strives to develop patients' social skills.

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