Attentional bias and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder one year after burn injury.
Trauma-related attentional bias is suggested to play a role in maintaining posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although being burn injured is a traumatic event for many patients, there are no prospective studies investigating attentional bias. The aims were to assess burn-specific attentional bias 1 year after burn, and its associations with risk factors for PTSD and symptoms of PTSD. A total of 38 adult patients with burns were assessed with a structured clinical interview and a Swedish version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised up to 1-year after burn. The Emotional Stroop Task was used to assess attentional bias 1 year after burn. In total 29 participants displayed burn-specific attentional bias. This group had more previous life events, perceived life threat, larger burns, and higher PTSD symptom severity. In conclusion, the majority of the patients had burn-specific attentional bias 1 year after burn and this was related to symptoms of PTSD.
Sveen
Josefin
J
Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
Dyster-Aas
Johan
J
Willebrand
Mimmie
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult