Post-traumatic stress disorder in hospitalized patients with burn injuries

The degree to which patients hospitalized for a major burn displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or met the full criteria for this disorder was assessed during the course of hospitalization. Fifty-four consecutive patients were screened weekly for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Sixty-three percent showed intrusive recollections of the initial trauma (partial diagnostic criteria) and 16 (29.6%) of the sample met full criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder at some point during the hospitalization. None of the patients met the full diagnostic criteria at discharge from the hospital, although one did at follow-up. Post-traumatic stress disorder was found to be related to patients' total body surface area burn, length of hospital stay, sex (female patients), and lack of responsibility for the injury. The results suggest that although post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with burn injuries generally resolves without interventions other than standard hospital care, it might be preventable if patients who are at risk for developing it receive appropriate psychologic treatment soon after the injury.