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Self-inflicted burn injuries in the Australian context
1Staff Specialist Psychiatrist, Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Sydney Local Health District, Concord, NSW, and; Clinical Associate Lecturer, Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW, Australia rebecca.wood@sydney.edu.au.
Summary
Self-inflicted burn injuries are a small percentage of hospital admissions but require more care. These patients have longer stays and higher rates of mental illness, necessitating psychiatric support.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Burn Injury Epidemiology
- Psychiatric Co-morbidity
Background:
- Self-inflicted burn injuries present unique challenges in healthcare settings.
- Understanding the characteristics of these injuries is crucial for resource allocation and patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of self-inflicted burn injuries in an Australian hospital burns unit.
- To compare the demographic profile, length of stay, and mental illness co-morbidity of these patients with all burns unit admissions.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of medical records was performed.
- Data was collected from a tertiary burns unit over a 5-year period.
Main Results:
- Self-inflicted burn injuries accounted for 2.2% of admissions (33 cases).
- Patients with self-inflicted burns had a higher prevalence of mental illness (73% vs. 14%) and significantly longer average stays (52 days vs. 12 days).
- Demographic profiles were similar to the general burns unit population.
Conclusions:
- Self-inflicted burn injuries represent a significant burden of care due to increased length of stay and co-morbid mental illness.
- Integration of consultation-liaison psychiatry services within burns units is recommended for optimal patient management.