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Long-term adjustment in burn victims: a matched-control study
N Altier1, A Malenfant, R Forget
1Burn Centre, Hotel-Dieu du Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Psychological Medicine
|July 10, 2002
Summary
Severely burned patients generally adjust well psychologically and in quality of life compared to healthy individuals. However, some develop psychological disturbances, particularly those with ongoing pain or abnormal sensations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Burn Rehabilitation
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Limited data exists comparing psychological profiles and quality of life in severely burned patients versus healthy controls.
- This study investigates psychological functioning and quality of life in burn survivors as part of a larger sensory consequences research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare psychological functioning and quality of life between severely burned patients and unburned healthy individuals.
- To determine if burn patients with persistent pain or paresthesia (symptomatic) differ psychologically from asymptomatic patients.
Main Methods:
- Forty-nine severely burned patients (34.59% TBSA) and 49 matched healthy controls were assessed.
- Psychological functioning was measured using the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R).
- Quality of life was assessed using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).
Main Results:
- Clinically significant psychological disturbances were found in approximately 25% of burn patients, versus 12% in controls.
- Burn patients reported quality of life comparable to controls, but perceived poorer general health.
- Symptomatic patients showed higher rates of somatization and obsessive-compulsive disturbances than asymptomatic patients.
Conclusions:
- Severely burned patients demonstrate good overall adjustment, but some experience significant psychological issues like somatization and phobic anxiety.
- Symptomatic burn patients do not exhibit greater maladjustment than asymptomatic ones, though they report more somatization and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.