Burn morbidity: a followup study of physical and psychological disability

Fifty-one burn patients were studied in a retrospective manner to determine the effects of the burn injury on their ability to return to their pre-burn physical and social status. The results of this study indicate that: 1) 79% of the patients were able to return to work or school, though 45% required a change in work and 25% were not able to continue with their peer groups in school; 2) the average time of disability was 6 months; 3) there was a significant psychological morbidity as demonstrated by self-confessed depression, juvenile delinquency and divorce. There is a need for awareness of these problems so that proper counseling can be offered to the burn patient and his family both during his hospitalization and after discharge.