Pain, depression, and physical functioning following burn injury.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about how pain and depression after burn injury may influence long-term outcomes such as physical functioning. This prospective study examined associations between pain, depression, and physical functioning in a sample of burn injury survivors.


METHODS
Questionnaires assessing pain, depression, and physical functioning were completed by 64 (52% of original sample) adult burn survivors shortly after discharge from burn care and at 1- and 2-year follow-ups.


RESULTS
Pain and physical functioning improved over the 2 years of the study, whereas depression levels were stable. Pain and depression were associated with poorer physical functioning over time, but associations varied according to the time span under consideration. Also, the association between pain and physical functioning was strongest among persons with higher depression scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Pain and depression may contribute independently to compromises in physical functioning. The co-occurrence of pain and depression represents even greater risk for reduced physical functioning over time among burn survivors.
Ullrich
Philip M
PM
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington. pullrich@u.washington.edu
Askay
Shelley Wiechman
SW
Patterson
David R
DR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012803:Sick Role; D055815:Young Adult