Anxiety is an affective response commonly experienced by persons after emot
ional and physical trauma, as well as associated with aversive medical trea
tments. The scientific information related to the conceptualization, assess
ment, and treatment of anxiety is limited. in order to develop a pilot prot
ocol for anxiety management, nursing directors at 64 burn centers were surv
eyed. At 89% of the centers, anxiety measures were not used. Most of the te
ams assess informally through observation of patient (n = 21), dialogue wit
h patient (n = 12), or both observation and dialogue with patient (n = 15).
Assessors of anxiety range in breadth from nurse only to the entire burn t
eam, including pastoral care representatives and family. The class of medic
ation most frequently endorsed in treating anxiety is the benzodiazipine, m
ost often lorazepam (Ativan). A number of non-pharmacologic techniques are
used to manage anxiety, e.g., muscle relaxation, breathing, imagery. Consid
eration should be given to assessing anxiety systematically, so knowledge c
an be gleaned and applied to conceptualization of symptom presentation and
application of treatment resources. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI.
All rights reserved.