J Trauma. 2004 Aug;57(2):367-74

Prediction of psychological health after an accidental burn.

Willebrand M, Andersson G, Ekselius L.

Department of Neuroscience Psychiatry, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Burn victims often display psychological symptoms that can impede recovery, but knowledge about risk factors for psychopathology is limited. This study aimed to predict psychological health 3 months after burn injury from coping and trauma-related factors assessed early in hospitalization.

METHODS: For this study, 34 burn patients were interviewed during hospitalization about their accident and coping. Questionnaires were administered during hospitalization and 3 months after the burn including the Impact of Event Scale-Revised for posttraumatic stress symptoms (intrusion, avoidance, arousal) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for mood.

RESULTS: Anxiety, depressive, and avoidant symptoms at 3 months were highly predicted by baseline levels of these symptoms and avoidant coping. The life threat at the burn event predicted intrusive and arousal symptoms, and coping by self-control predicted less intrusive symptoms. Burn severity was not predictive of psychological health.

CONCLUSIONS: Coping style, life threat during the accident, and early symptoms are strong predictors of psychopathology after a burn.