title: Symptoms of depression predict change in physical health after burn injury.
abstract: This study investigated the prevalence of symptoms of depression in patients hospitalized with severe burns and the association of symptoms of depression in the hospital with physical health 2 months after discharge, controlling for pre-burn physical health as measured by the SF-36 physical composite score. Survivors of acute burns were evaluated during the hospitalization (N=262) and at 1 week (N=165) and 2 months (N=100) after discharge. The prevalence of at least mild to moderate symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory > or = 10) ranged from 23% to 26%. In-hospital symptoms of depression predicted change in physical health from pre-burn to 2 months post-discharge (p=.02), controlling for patient demographics, burn severity, and symptoms of PTSD. These results suggest that patients should be screened for depression, both in-hospital and during rehabilitation after discharge.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. brett.thombs@mcgill.ca
authors: Brett D
authors: BD
authors: Thombs
authors: Melissa G
authors: MG
authors: Bresnick
authors: Gina
authors: G
authors: Magyar-Russell
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Lawrence
authors: Una D
authors: UD
authors: McCann
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Fauerbach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies