Posttraumatic stress disorder in patients with burns.
Among 39 patients with burns evaluated a mean of 12 months after hospital discharge, 38% met DSM-III-R criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for at least 1 month. With proposed DSM-IV criteria, 43% met criteria for past or current PTSD. Analysis of specific symptom clusters of PTSD revealed that 74% of patients had been affected by a reexperience symptom for at least 1 month, but only 30% were currently experiencing flashbacks. No correlation was found between several clinical correlates (TBSA, length of hospitalization, and age) and development of PTSD. There was no correlation between presence of a DSM-III-R psychiatric diagnosis at the time of hospitalization and later development of PTSD and no correlation between whether or not a psychiatric diagnosis emerged during hospitalization and later development of PTSD. Finally, patients who had injuries that they could not prevent were no more likely to experience PTSD.
Powers
P S
PS
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33613.
Cruse
C W
CW
Daniels
S
S
Stevens
B
B
D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors