EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS IN BURN PATIENTS DURING HOSPITALIZATION

This is a preliminary study of psychological symptoms, prior psychosoc ial adjustment and severity of injury in 25 consecutive bunt patients. All had suffered bums in work-related accidents and were evaluated by the psychiatric consulation-liaison team during their initial hospita lization in the Burn Unit of the Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago. Al l patients were clinically evaluated and the following instruments wer e applied: Hamilton Scales of Anxiety (HAM-A) and Depression (HAM-D), Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Cloninger's Tridimen sional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and a modified version of a Sch ooler's Adjustment Scale. No significant correlation was found between extent and severity of burns and anxious or depressive symptoms. Howe ver, all patients had burns that varied from mild to moderate; there w ere no severe and extensive injuries. A significant correlation was fo und between anxiety and the harm avoidance dimension in the TPQ, as wo uld be expected. Patients with poor psychosocial adjustment presented with greater anxiety symptoms. A significant negative correlation was also found between degree of anxiety symptoms and income level. The ma in findings are in agreement with current literature. They emphasize t he relevance of prior psychosocial adjustment and personality as proba ble factors of psychological symptoms. The need to control pain as a v ariable is also pointed out. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd f or ISBI.