Psychological effects of severe burn injuries.

Abstract

Severe burn injuries provide researchers with an opportunity to study the effects of painful but usually transient trauma on psychological functioning. To that end, this article presents a review of the 3 main areas of this body of literature: (a) premorbid characteristics of people who sustain severe burn injuries, (b) psychological reactions during hospitalization, and (c) long-term adjustment. The general implications of these studies are discussed and then used to illuminate the circumstances under which individuals suffer the most from this type of trauma, the effects of such injuries on personality function, and how meaningful units of measurements can be defined. Potential clinical applications are also described.

Puerarin alleviates burn-related procedural pain mediated by P2X3 receptors

“…This rapid response is brought about by sudden increases in sympathetic nervous system activity and endogenous stress hormone levels [14,50]. It has been reported that the secretions of plasma cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and aldosterone are significantly increased immediately after severe burns, and the extent of this is associated with intensity of stress [14,40]. Furthermore, the levels of blood glucose, insulin, and cortisol in burn patients are enhanced.…”

“…Furthermore, the levels of blood glucose, insulin, and cortisol in burn patients are enhanced. In patients with large areas of burn, particularly thirddegree burns, lasting hyperglycemia and hypermetabolism promote secretion from Islets of Langerhans to accelerate glycogenolysis, which elevate blood glucose [14,25,40,51]. Increased levels of cortisols are further associated with enhanced hepatic gluconeogenesis and a reduced insulinmediated glucose uptake into skeletal muscle and adipose tissue [20,44].…”

“…Pain accompanies burns and involves emotion and physical stress and dysregulation of the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenocortical axis and immune system [14,40]. This rapid response is brought about by sudden increases in sympathetic nervous system activity and endogenous stress hormone levels [14,50].…”

Looking in the mirror for the first time after facial burns: A retrospective mixed methods study

“…In relation to mental images, all patients who responded described 'negative scarring-related images.' This may reflect patients' awareness of the perceived importance of the face in social interactions and other people's feeling and stigma when confronted with visible difference [7,[11][12]. Finally, 81% of patients described 'negative emotions' (anxiety, shock, sadness), 31% detailed 'positive emotions' (relief, feeling grateful) and 15% described 'feeling neutral' when they looked at themselves for the first time.…”

“…Stigma associated with changes to appearance may be one of the most difficult challenges in adjusting to burn injuries [7]. Within the wider disfigurement literature, it has been concluded that premorbid and continuing psychological and social factors are better predictors of post-burn coping and adjustment rather than the objective characteristics of the burn injury itself.…”