ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN BURN PATIENTS

Authors

  • Tabassum Alvi
  • Fatima Assad
  • Aurang zeb
  • M A Nasir Malik

Abstract

Background: The psychological aspects of burn injury have been researched in different parts ofworld producing different outcomes. Therefore objective of this research is to determine thefrequency of Anxiety and Depression in burn patients. To assess the socio-demographic distributionof patients developing Anxiety and Depression and to determine the effects of burn related factors ondevelopment of Anxiety and Depression. Methods: A Case series was conducted at the Departmentof Burn, Pakistan Ordinance Factory Hospital, Wah Cantt. for a duration of 12 months commencingfrom June 2007 and concluded in May 2008. The study population comprised of hospitalizedpatients with 1% to 50%, selected through non probable sampling technique who were assessed forAnxiety and Depression on fifteen day after burn injury. Testing protocol comprised of questionnairehaving socio-demographic variables and burn related variables. Beck Depression Inventory and BeckAnxiety Inventory was applied to evaluate Anxiety and Depression in Burn patients. Descriptivestatistics like mean with Standard Deviation was calculated for age. Frequencies along withpercentages were calculated for socio-demographic variables. The frequencies and proportions werealso calculated for presence and extent of severity of depression and anxiety in burn patients.Results: Fifty patients were included in the study, thirty patients (60%) were male and 20 (40%)were females. The mean age of participants was 33.64±19 years. Majority of participants, 38 (76%)had sustained burn injury up to 25%. Flame was found to be most common agent of burn injuriesaffecting 19 (38%) patients. Depression was seen amongst 29 (58%) patients. Thirteen (26 %)patients had mild, 7 (14%) had moderate and 9 (18%) had severe Depressive symptoms. Anxietywas seen among 41 (82%) patients, thirteen (26%) patients had mild, 11 (22%) had moderate and 17(34%) had severe Anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: Anxiety was present in 41 (82%) and Depressionwas present in 29 (58%) patients following burn injury. This study highlights the importance of thesimultaneous evaluation and management of Anxiety and Depression in burn injured patients.Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Burn

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Published

2009-03-01

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