The literature concerning the psychological consequences following spi
nal cord injury (SCI) indicates a discordance between clinical impress
ions and empirical research. Although many studies report that psychol
ogical morbidity is not an inevitable consequence of SCI, much of this
research is characterised by methodological inadequacies and the conc
lusions are therefore tenuous. The present study assessed 41 persons w
ith SCI for depression and anxiety using objective psychological measu
res on three occasions over the first year of SCI and compared them wi
th 41 able bodied controls matched for age, sex, education and, as far
as possible, occupation. Results demonstrated significant differences
between the two groups. with the SCI group being more anxious and dep
ressed. However, psychological morbidity was not an inevitable consequ
ence of SCI, with group means reflecting mild levels of depression and
anxiety. No significant differences were found across time and no int
eractions between groups and time were detected. Implications for the
treatment of SCI are discussed.