engleski

Psychiatric comorbidity in burn injured patients

PSYCHIATRIC COMORBIDITY IN BURN INJURED PATIENTS Introduction: The trauma of severe burn injuries can affect people in different ways, and it is estimated that up to a third of all burn patients develop comorbid psychiatric disorders. The presence of psychiatric disorders in burn patients has been found to have an impact of their burn care and long term adjustment. Objective: The authors analysed the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in burn-injured patients as well as the optimal treatment of those disorders. Methods: The 50 patients with burn injuries, who were hospitally treated at the Zagreb University Hospital of Traumatology, were selected as the sample for this study. Patients were interviewed within 2 weeks of their burn trauma. All patients were administered the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Hopelesness Inventory and Coping with Burns Questionnaire. On the base of medical records the authors analysed the prevalence of psychiatric disorders prior to the burn injury, as well as the psychotropic agents administered to those patients during hospitalization. Results: The main psychiatric complication during the first days of hospitalization was delirium, due to multiple etiologies. Significant number of patients developed the syndrome of acute stress disorder. Also, burn patients are found to experiencing mood and anxiety disorders, together with insomnia, behavioral problems, and intensive pain. Psychotropis drugs have been prescribed to all patients as adjuvant therapy for pain management as well as for the psychiatric comorbidity. Among psychotropic agents, patients were treated with anxiolytics, hypnotics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics. Conclusion: In the modern treatment of burn injured patients, psychiatric comorbidity needs to be taken into account. Burn patients would likely benefit from systematic assessment and treatment of their psychiatric disorders by consultation psychiatrist. Further research on optimal psychopharmacotherapy as well as psychotherapeutical interventions for burn patients are required.

psychiatric comorbidity; treatment

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