Citation

Duke JM, Randall SM, Vetrichevvel TP, McGarry S, Boyd JH, Rea S, Wood FM. Burns Trauma 2018; 6: e32.

Affiliation

Burns Service of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth, Western Australia Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, China, Publisher Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s41038-018-0134-z

PMID

30460320

PMCID

PMC6233288

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Burns are a devastating injury that can cause physical and psychological issues. Limited data exist on long-term mental health (MH) after unintentional burns sustained during childhood. This study assessed long-term MH admissions after paediatric burns.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all children (< 18 years) hospitalised for a first burn (n = 11,967) in Western Australia, 1980-2012, and a frequency matched uninjured comparison cohort (n = 46,548). Linked hospital, MH and death data were examined. Multivariable negative binomial regression modelling was used to generate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: The burn cohort had a significantly higher adjusted rate of post-burn MH admissions compared to the uninjured cohort (IRR, 95% CI: 2.55, 2.07-3.15). Post-burn MH admission rates were twice as high for those younger than 5 years at index burn (IRR, 95% CI 2.06, 1.54-2.74), three times higher for those 5-9 years and 15-18 years (IRR, 95% CI: 3.21, 1.92-5.37 and 3.37, 2.13-5.33, respectively) and almost five times higher for those aged 10-14 (IRR, 95% CI: 4.90, 3.10-7.76), when compared with respective ages of uninjured children. The burn cohort had higher admission rates for mood and anxiety disorders (IRR, 95% CI: 2.79, 2.20-3.53), psychotic disorders (IRR, 95% CI: 2.82, 1.97-4.03) and mental and behavioural conditions relating to drug and alcohol abuse (IRR, 95% CI: 4.25, 3.39-5.32).

CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing MH support is indicated for paediatric burn patients for a prolonged period after discharge to potentially prevent psychiatric morbidity and associated academic, social and psychological issues.

Language: en

Keywords

Anxiety; Depression; Longitudinal study; Mental health; Paediatric burns; Substance abuse