Preburn Psychiatric History Affects Posttrauma Morbidity

• Published in: Psychosomatics (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 1997-07, Vol.38 (4), p.374-385
• Main Authors: Fauerbach, James A., Lawrence, John, Haythornthwaite, Jennifer, Richter, Daniel, McGuire, Marsden, Schmidt, Chester, Munster, Andrew
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Burns - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Severity of Illness Index; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy
• ISSN: 0033-3182; 1545-7206
• DOI: 10.1016/S0033-3182(97)71445-2

A sample of inpatient, burn-injured adults (N = 95) were assessed upon discharge, and 4 and 12 months later with a structured interview and DSM-III-R criteria. The prevalence of disorder in this sample was contrasted with published data on a representative national community-dwelling comparison group in the National Comorbidity Study.The prevalence oflifetime affective, alcohol, and substance use disorders was significantly higher, and lifetime anxiety disorders significantly lower, in the burn-injured sample. The 12-month postburn prevalences of alcohol, and substance use disorders were significantly greater in the burn-injured sample. The risk of postburn disorder was significantly greater for the subjects who had a preburn history of affective, alcohol, or substance use disorder. The risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was elevated in the subjects with a preburn affective disorder but not preburn anxiety disorder. Finally, postburn PTSD was associated with a greater length of stay, and greater preburn comorbidity predicted preburn employment status and tended to lengthen hospitalization.