Quality of life and psychopathological risk of burn patients: a narrative review

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Lucia Sideli, Alice Mulè, Maria Valentina Barone, Caterina La Cascia, Alessia Prestifilippo, Angela Di Pasquale, Daniele La Barbera
Publishing Year 2016 Issue 2016/2 Language Italian
Pages 20 P. 86-105 File size 215 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2016-002005
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Despite the advances of medicine and surgery, burn traumas still represent a significant cause of impairment and disability, which exert a significant impact on quality of life and are related to several psychopathological outcomes, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. This narrative non-systematic review aims at outlining the main findings related to quality of life, psychopathological symptoms, risk and protective factors, assessment tools, and psychological interventions targeted to burn patients. Results show that the natural history of burn injuries is a complex process involving a variety of factors, such as body image dissatisfaction, coping strategies, and social support. It seems clear that the assessment of burn trauma should consider not only functional and aesthetic features, but also psychological and social consequences. Furthermore, it is fundamental that, in addition to surgical, medical, and rehabilitation treatments, psychological interventions would be available to burn patients and their family members.

Keywords: Burn trauma, quality of life, psychiatric symptoms, risk factors, health psychology.

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Lucia Sideli, Alice Mulè, Maria Valentina Barone, Caterina La Cascia, Alessia Prestifilippo, Angela Di Pasquale, Daniele La Barbera, La qualità della vita e il rischio psicopatologico dei pazienti ustionati: una revisione narrativa della letteratura in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 2/2016, pp 86-105, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2016-002005