Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To determine the profile of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among outpatients with burn injuries referred to psychology in a rehabilitation hospital, and the utility of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) as a screening measure for PTSD.
DESIGN
Retrospective psychological chart review.
SETTING
Outpatient burn clinic of a rehabilitation hospital.
PARTICIPANTS
Outpatients (N=132) with burns referred to psychology between December 1999 and January 2010.
INTERVENTIONS
Psychological evaluation and self-report questionnaires measuring PTSD and depression.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition to assess clinical diagnosis of disorders, PCL-C to measure PTSD, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II to measure depression.
RESULTS
Of 132 outpatients, 127 (96%) had work-related injuries, 116 (88%) were men, and 16 (12%) were women. Mean age ± SD at injury was 39.0±11.1 years. Mean time from injury to assessment was 15.7±42.7 months. Burn etiology included: electrical (46.2%), scald (28.0%), flame (16.7%), chemical (5.3%), and contact (3.8%). Most patients (75%) were diagnosed with PTSD, either clinical (39.4%) or subclinical (35.6%). PTSD (clinical or subclinical) was frequently diagnosed in the following etiology groups: scald (85.7%), flame (77.3%), and electrical (74.6%). There were significant relationships between PTSD and depression (P<.001), and between subclinical PTSD and adjustment disorder (P<.03). PCL-C mean scores ± SD in the clinical and subclinical PTSD groups were 59.7±8.9 and 43.5±15.6, respectively. A PCL-C total score of 50 or higher had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 79% for PTSD diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
There was a high prevalence of PTSD (clinical or subclinical) among outpatients with burns referred to psychology. Prospective screening of psychological symptoms, clinical assessment, and intervention is warranted, especially for patients with work-related burn injuries. Our results suggest that PCL-C is a useful screening measure for PTSD in patients with burns.
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist as a screening measure for posttraumatic stress disorder in rehabilitation after burn injuries.
AU - Gardner,Paula J,
AU - Knittel-Keren,Dafna,
AU - Gomez,Manuel,
Y1 - 2012/02/24/
PY - 2011/08/23/received
PY - 2011/11/11/revised
PY - 2011/11/14/accepted
PY - 2012/2/28/entrez
PY - 2012/3/1/pubmed
PY - 2012/5/23/medline
SP - 623
EP - 8
JF - Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
JO - Arch Phys Med Rehabil
VL - 93
IS - 4
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To determine the profile of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among outpatients with burn injuries referred to psychology in a rehabilitation hospital, and the utility of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) as a screening measure for PTSD. DESIGN: Retrospective psychological chart review. SETTING: Outpatient burn clinic of a rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Outpatients (N=132) with burns referred to psychology between December 1999 and January 2010. INTERVENTIONS: Psychological evaluation and self-report questionnaires measuring PTSD and depression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition to assess clinical diagnosis of disorders, PCL-C to measure PTSD, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II to measure depression. RESULTS: Of 132 outpatients, 127 (96%) had work-related injuries, 116 (88%) were men, and 16 (12%) were women. Mean age ± SD at injury was 39.0±11.1 years. Mean time from injury to assessment was 15.7±42.7 months. Burn etiology included: electrical (46.2%), scald (28.0%), flame (16.7%), chemical (5.3%), and contact (3.8%). Most patients (75%) were diagnosed with PTSD, either clinical (39.4%) or subclinical (35.6%). PTSD (clinical or subclinical) was frequently diagnosed in the following etiology groups: scald (85.7%), flame (77.3%), and electrical (74.6%). There were significant relationships between PTSD and depression (P<.001), and between subclinical PTSD and adjustment disorder (P<.03). PCL-C mean scores ± SD in the clinical and subclinical PTSD groups were 59.7±8.9 and 43.5±15.6, respectively. A PCL-C total score of 50 or higher had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 79% for PTSD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of PTSD (clinical or subclinical) among outpatients with burns referred to psychology. Prospective screening of psychological symptoms, clinical assessment, and intervention is warranted, especially for patients with work-related burn injuries. Our results suggest that PCL-C is a useful screening measure for PTSD in patients with burns.
SN - 1532-821X
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/22365477/The_Posttraumatic_Stress_Disorder_Checklist_as_a_screening_measure_for_posttraumatic_stress_disorder_in_rehabilitation_after_burn_injuries_
L2 - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0003-9993(11)00981-6
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
