Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Burns Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background and Objective: Burns injury is a major cause of anxiety and depression, contributing both as a risk factor and as an outcome process. This poses a great challenge in rehabilitation of burns patients. The main objective of this research is to understand better the frequency of anxiety and depression in burns victims and also assess the socio-demographic distribution of such cases. Materials and Methods:100 cases were selected among all the patients admitted to burns ward of McGann hospital Shimoga Institute of Medical sciences, during the two year period from January 2011 to December 2012, with 10% to 50% burns included through non-probable sampling technique. Testing protocol consisted of 21 points multiple choice questionnaire (Beck's Anxiety and Depression Inventory) including various socio-demographic variables and burn related variables. Standard statistical measures like mean with standard deviation and frequencies with proportions were calculated. Results:Of the 100 patients, 68% were females and 32% were males. The mean age of participants was 30.12 years. Majority of victims (68%) sustained burn injuries ranging from 25%-30%. Accidental stove burst was the most common factor in causation in 52% cases.Anxiety was seen amongst 78% cases, out of which 30% had mild, 32% had moderate and remaining 38% had severe anxiety scores. Depression was seen in 58 patients, out of which 20 had mild, 22 had moderate and rest 14 cases had severe depression symptoms. Conclusion:As anxiety and depression co-existed in majority of cases, it becomes highly prudent on the part of surgical team along with psychologist/psychiatrist, to simultaneously assess and manage both conditions in mild to moderate degree of burn related injuries.