title: Self-inflicted burns.
abstract: Over a 3-year period 17 people were admitted for intentionally self-inflicted burns. The mean total body surface area burn was 29.5%, and 59% of the patients sustained an inhalation injury. Two patients died from their injuries (one male and one female). The method most often used (59%) was a flammable liquid ignited by a flame. Of those patients, 50% used gasoline. Fifty-nine percent of the patients were current substance abusers, with alcohol (80%) being the favored drug. Aside from substance abuse, psychiatric abnormalities were present in 53% of the patients. Schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorders was the primary psychiatric diagnosis (44%), with most patients having undergone previous psychiatric treatment. All had diagnosed disorders (using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III--Revised) including substance abuse and/or other psychiatric disorders. Actual stated suicidal intent was present in 41% of the cases, and another 41% were irrational attempts to escape from or control emotional pain.
authors.affiliation: Humana Burn Center, Augusta, Georgia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Squyres
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Still
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012652:Self Mutilation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide; D013406:Suicide, Attempted