Behavioural changes in burned adult patients during their stay in hospital

Using regular weekly interviews and entries on special record cards, the authors were able to study behavioural changes and psychological disorders in 53 adults patients with moderately severe burns admitted to a burns unit in a large Paris hospital. The changes observed followed a distinctive pattern and could be divided into four phases corresponding to admission, stabilization, recovery, and pre-discharge. The results of these studies may help to institute timely chemotherapy or psychotherapy and to provide the nursing staff with a better understanding of these patients.