Post-Burn Quality of Life, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Insomnia: A Six-Month Follow-Up Study

Burn injuries significantly impact patients' quality of life (QoL), often leading to insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of the present research was to explore QoL, PTSD, and insomnia in patients with burn injuries three and six months after hospital discharge, as well as the associated factors with QoL.

The present study enrolled adults with burn injuries in any area of the body who were measured at three and six months after the injury. The research tools were Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief, Abbreviated Burn Severity Index, Athens Insomnia Scale, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised, which also included patients' demographic and clinical data as well as reports from patients. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05, and analyses were conducted using IBM Corp. Released 2018. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.

Data from 85 patients showed mild-to-moderate PTSD symptoms (IES-R mean 2.75 at three months, and 2.59 at six months; p=0.246). From three months to six months, measurement of QoL significantly improved (p<0.001), while insomnia symptoms decreased (p<0.001). PTSD and insomnia were negatively correlated with QoL at three and six months (p<0.001) and positively associated with each other at both measurements (p<0.001). Greater burn extent predicted worse QoL in Hand function and overall score (p=0.006, p<0.001). PTSD symptoms were linked to multiple QoL domains (e.g., affect p<0.001, sexuality p=0.001), while insomnia predicted worse simple abilities (p<0.001).

This study highlights the complex interplay between QoL, insomnia, and PTSD in patients with burn injuries. Further research with larger, more representative samples and extended follow-up is essential to develop effective interventions and improve patient outcomes.