Mental disorders among acute burn patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate mental disorders among acute hospitalized burn patients.


METHODS
Consecutive acute adult burn patients (n=107) admitted to Helsinki Burn Centre were interviewed by an experienced psychiatrist with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR for Axis I and II mental disorders assessed in three time frames (lifetime, the month prior to burn, and in acute care). Information on clinical features, psychiatric symptoms, personality traits, and burn severity (total body surface area, TBSA) was gathered.


RESULTS
The mean TBSA was 9%. Most (61%) acute burn patients had at least one lifetime Axis I or II mental disorder. Prevalences of lifetime substance-related disorders (47%), psychotic disorders (10%), and Axis II personality disorders (23%) were high. The overall prevalence of Axis I mental disorders increased significantly (Q=6.40, df=1, p=0.011) from the month prior to burn (40%) to acute care (48%). The prevalence of delirium for this period was significantly higher (0.9% vs. 13%; Q=13.00, df=1, p<0.001) in acute care.


CONCLUSIONS
Mental disorders, particularly substance use disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders are common among acute burn patients before injury. These disorders may predispose to burns. Burn itself may also predispose to mental disorders, particularly delirium.
Palmu
Raimo
R
Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. raimo.palmu@thl.fi
Suominen
Kirsi
K
Vuola
Jyrki
J
Isometsä
Erkki
E
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires