Prediction of psychological health after an accidental burn.
BACKGROUND
Burn victims often display psychological symptoms that can impede recovery, but knowledge about risk factors for psychopathology is limited. This study aimed to predict psychological health 3 months after burn injury from coping and trauma-related factors assessed early in hospitalization.


METHODS
For this study, 34 burn patients were interviewed during hospitalization about their accident and coping. Questionnaires were administered during hospitalization and 3 months after the burn including the Impact of Event Scale-Revised for posttraumatic stress symptoms (intrusion, avoidance, arousal) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for mood.


RESULTS
Anxiety, depressive, and avoidant symptoms at 3 months were highly predicted by baseline levels of these symptoms and avoidant coping. The life threat at the burn event predicted intrusive and arousal symptoms, and coping by self-control predicted less intrusive symptoms. Burn severity was not predictive of psychological health.


CONCLUSIONS
Coping style, life threat during the accident, and early symptoms are strong predictors of psychopathology after a burn.
Willebrand
Mimmie
M
Department of Neuroscience Psychiatry, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. mimmie.willebrand@plastik.uu.se
Andersson
Gerhard
G
Ekselius
Lisa
L
D000059:Accidents / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden