Burn patients need help coping with depression

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

People who have had serious burns are likely to suffer from clinical depression.
Having a serious burn can be a traumatic experience, so it hardly surprising that it can lead to depression. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University now reveal just how widespread depression is among burn patients. They surveyed 224 patients undergoing reconstructive surgery for burns.

On average, the patients had suffered from burns around seven years before the study. Forty-six per cent of them showed signs of mild, moderate or serious depression. Women and those most concerned over their body image were the more likely to be depressed. It is normal for people to take time to adjust to their condition after a burn, the researchers say. But clearly this takes a very long time for some, who remain suffer from depression years after the event. Therefore, it may be helpful if there is more psychological support in burns units. For instance, cognitive therapy may help burn patients deal with how they view their appearance and deal with others' reactions to it.

Source
General Hospital Psychiatry January/February 2007 Volume 29

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