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Posttraumatic stress disorder in patients with burns
P S Powers1, C W Cruse, S Daniels
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33613.
The Journal of Burn Care & Rehabilitation
|March 1, 1994
Summary
A significant percentage of burn survivors experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) long after hospital discharge. Burn injury patients frequently report re-experiencing symptoms, but fewer have current flashbacks.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Trauma Studies
- Burn Medicine
Background:
- Burn injuries are severe traumatic events with potential long-term psychological sequelae.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a recognized condition following trauma.
- Understanding the prevalence and correlates of PTSD in burn survivors is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients following burn injury.
- To analyze specific symptom clusters of PTSD in this population.
- To investigate potential clinical correlates associated with PTSD development after burns.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 39 patients with burns was evaluated a mean of 12 months post-hospital discharge.
- Diagnostic criteria from DSM-III-R and proposed DSM-IV for PTSD were applied.
- Data on clinical factors such as TBSA, hospitalization length, age, and pre-existing/emergent psychiatric diagnoses were collected.
Main Results:
- 38% met DSM-III-R criteria for PTSD, and 43% met proposed DSM-IV criteria for past or current PTSD.
- A high prevalence of re-experiencing symptoms (74%) was observed, though current flashbacks were less common (30%).
- No significant correlations were found between clinical factors (TBSA, hospitalization duration, age) and PTSD development, nor with psychiatric diagnoses during hospitalization.
Conclusions:
- Burn survivors exhibit a substantial risk of developing PTSD and related symptoms months after discharge.
- Specific PTSD symptom clusters, like re-experiencing, are highly prevalent.
- Clinical factors and hospitalization-related psychiatric diagnoses did not predict PTSD development in this cohort.