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Prediction of psychological health after an accidental burn
Mimmie Willebrand1, Gerhard Andersson, Lisa Ekselius
1Department of Neuroscience Psychiatry, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. mimmie.willebrand@plastik.uu.se
Background:
Burn victims often display psychological symptoms that can impede recovery, but knowledge about risk factors for psychopathology is limited. This study aimed to predict psychological health 3 months after burn injury from coping and trauma-related factors assessed early in hospitalization.
Methods:
For this study, 34 burn patients were interviewed during hospitalization about their accident and coping. Questionnaires were administered during hospitalization and 3 months after the burn including the Impact of Event Scale-Revised for posttraumatic stress symptoms (intrusion, avoidance, arousal) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for mood.
Results:
Anxiety, depressive, and avoidant symptoms at 3 months were highly predicted by baseline levels of these symptoms and avoidant coping. The life threat at the burn event predicted intrusive and arousal symptoms, and coping by self-control predicted less intrusive symptoms. Burn severity was not predictive of psychological health.
Conclusions:
Coping style, life threat during the accident, and early symptoms are strong predictors of psychopathology after a burn.
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