title: Brief report: quality of life is impaired in pediatric burn survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in pediatric burn survivors and examined associations between PTSD and HRQOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three burn survivors, ages 7-16 years, were interviewed at an average of 4.4 years after their accident using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents and the TNO-AZL Child Quality of Life Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight children (18.6%) met DSM-IV criteria for current PTSD. While most dimensions of HRQOL were within normal limits, social functioning was impaired. Severity of PTSD was significantly associated with physical, cognitive, and emotional dimensions of HRQOL. Children with PTSD reported an impaired overall HRQOL and limited physical (e.g., more bodily complaints) and emotional functioning (e.g., more feelings of sadness).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides tentative evidence for a considerably high prevalence of PTSD in pediatric burn survivors and for a negative association between PTSD and HRQOL.
authors: Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. markus.landolt@kispi.uzh.ch
authors: Markus A
authors: MA
authors: Landolt
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Buehlmann
authors: Tanja
authors: T
authors: Maag
authors: Clemens
authors: C
authors: Schiestl
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*