Emotional disturbances of burned children

Abstract

Of 198 child patients who had severe burns two to five years previously, 81% showed signs of emotional disturbance according to their mothers. This incidence of disturbance was in marked contrast to that noted in the patients' 608 siblings (7%) and in a random control group of 50 (14%). Of many factors examined, only the lack of parental visiting to children under 5 years old was found to be significantly related to disturbance. It is concluded that in most cases the disturbances resulted from various combinations of factors. If the incidence of disturbance is to be lessened, more attention should be paid to the emotional needs of the children and the part parents can play in treatment. © 1959, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.