Abstract

MEDEIROS, Leticia Galery; KRISTENSEN, Christian Haag  and  ALMEIDA, Rosa Maria Martins de. Posttraumatic stress symptoms, anxiety and depression in burn-victims patients. Arq. bras. psicol. [online]. 2010, vol.62, n.1, pp. 148-158. ISSN 1809-5267.

There is a growing interest in the investigation of the emotional consequences related to burns. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of posttraumatic stress (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms among burnt inpatients in the Hospital Municipal de Pronto Socorro de Porto Alegre (RS, Brazil). In patients’ symptomatology was assessed with the Screen for Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms (SPTSS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). It was found that burn-victims patients showed high levels of psychopathology, including clinically-relevant PTSD (21.7% of participants), and moderate-to-severe anxiety (25%) and depression (30%) symptoms. Overall, burn extension and degree weren’t associated to the level of symptomatology. Taken together, the findings suggest that victims of burn should receive additional care regarding their mental health status, including interventions tailored to prevent PTSD and depression.

Keywords : Burn; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Depression; Clinic.

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