TY - JOUR PY - 2018// TI - Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder among burn patients in Pakistan: the role of reconstructive surgery in post-burn psychosocial adjustment JO - Burns: journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries A1 - Waqas, Ahmed A1 - Raza, Nahal A1 - Zahid, Termina A1 - Rehman, Abdul A1 - Hamid, Tooba A1 - Hanif, Ayesha A1 - Jamal, Mehak A1 - Farrukh, Ayesha A1 - Azam, Abeera A1 - Turk, Marvee A1 - Chaudhry, Muhammad Ashraf SP - 620 EP - 625 VL - 44 IS - 3 N2 - BACKGROUND: Burns are a common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is among the most prevalent psychopathologies documented among burn patients. However, little is known regarding the risk factors for post-burn PTSD outside the well-documented Western world context. The present study aims to elucidate the biopsychosocial correlates of PTSD among burn patients in Pakistan.

METHODS: A total 343 burn patients were evaluated across four teaching hospitals in the Punjab province of Pakistan between August and December of 2016. "Patients aged 18 years or older, with no major comorbid illnesses, presenting for burn care at burn units or surgical departments of the listed hospitals were interviewed by trained healthcare providers using a validated questionnaire." Uni- and multivariate statistical analyses were used to evaluate associations between patient characteristics and PTSD symptomatology, as measured by the validated Urdu version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R).

RESULTS: The prevalence of PTSD among our cohort was 69%. Lower educational attainment, ethnic minority status, unemployment, large burn surface area, prior suicidal ideation, and domestic violence were all associated with increased PTSD symptomatology. On the other hand, social support, ego resiliency, and reconstructive surgery were all associated with decreased PTSD symptomatology.

CONCLUSION: There is a remarkably high prevalence of PTSD among burn patients in Pakistan. Improving accessibility to reconstructive surgery and social support may help to alleviate this burden.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0305-4179 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2017.09.012 ID - ref1 ER -