DETERMINANTS OF PAIN EXPRESSION IN HOSPITALIZED BURN PATIENTS

This study examines the relationship between extent of injury, degree and type of psychological distress and self-report of pain in burn sur vivors. One hundred eighty burn patients were interviewed within 2 wee ks of their burn trauma. Using a visual analogue scale to assess subje ctive pain and pain relief, and self-report measures of post-traumatic stress symptoms and general psychological distress, we assessed the r elationship between PTSD symptoms, general distress and pain. Subjecti ve pain was unrelated to sex, ethnicity, or total body surface area bu rned. The most important correlate of subjective pain was general psyc hological distress. Intrusive PTSD symptoms had no independent power t o predict the variance in pain scores, However, among women, more seve re avoidant symptoms were associated with greater subjective pain. (C) 1997 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by El sevier Science B.V.