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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
07:08
Burn Injury-Induced Pain and Depression-Like Behavior in Mice
Published on: September 29, 2021
Pain, depression, and physical functioning following burn injury
Philip M Ullrich1, Shelley Wiechman Askay, David R Patterson
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington. pullrich@u.washington.edu
Rehabilitation Psychology
|May 28, 2009
Summary
Pain and depression significantly impair physical functioning in burn survivors over time. The combined presence of pain and depression poses a greater risk to long-term physical recovery after burn injury.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation medicine
- Psychological trauma
- Burn care outcomes
Background:
- Long-term physical functioning after burn injury is not well understood.
- The influence of pain and depression on recovery is a critical area for investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between pain, depression, and physical functioning in burn survivors.
- To understand how these factors impact long-term outcomes post-burn.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study design.
- 64 adult burn survivors participated.
- Data collected via questionnaires at discharge, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups.
Main Results:
- Pain and physical functioning improved over 2 years; depression remained stable.
- Both pain and depression were linked to poorer physical functioning.
- The association between pain and physical functioning was amplified by higher depression levels.
Conclusions:
- Pain and depression can independently hinder physical functioning in burn survivors.
- The concurrent experience of pain and depression presents a substantial risk for diminished long-term physical function.
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