Suffering, depression, and the impact on self-image in individuals with burns

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals with burns suffer from self-esteem and depression. Objective: Analyze the participants' perception of the suffering caused by the burn, depressive symptoms, and interference in self-image and interpersonal relationships. Methods: Qualitative, longitudinal, descriptive study, with 36 participants seen at a reference center of care to burn people in a teaching hospital in southern Brazil. A semi-structured interview was conducted, and data were processed through Content Analysis. Results: The category about the suffering caused by the burn, and its impact on self-image emerged with three thematic units. Data suggest that participants dissatisfied with a self-image developed depressive symptoms in response to the difficulties that the burn caused in the life of a relationship; family support was decisive in coping with the new condition; affective links were rescued, benefiting the recovery. Conclusion and implications for practice: Participants' self-image perception damaged and associated with decreased self-esteem and depressive symptoms, impairment for the interpersonal relationship, and pointing out the importance of the family in the process of recovery and strengthening of family bonds during and after treatment of the burn.