Self-Inflicted Burn Injuries

Autor: Erzurum, Victor Z., Varcellotti, Jorge
Zdroj: Journal of Burn Care & Research; January 1999, Vol. 20 Issue: 1 p22-24, 3p
Abstrakt: Self-inflicted burns are uncommon yet disturbing. A 9-year retrospective review of all admissions to the Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh Burn Center from 1987 to 1995 found 11 out of 1135 patients to have self-inflicted burns. Ten of these patients had a psychiatric diagnosis prior to injury: major depression in 6 cases, schizophrenia in 3 cases, and a personality disorder in 1 case. The other patient was diagnosed with major depression during her hospitalization. Escape from stress/sadness was the motive for 6 patients. Two were actually attempting suicide and 2 were motivated by hallucinations/delusions. On the basis of this review, we recommend that patients with an abnormal psychological profile—including suicidal ideation—be adequately monitored and regularly followed by appropriate mental health professionals. It is hoped that an awareness of the phenomena of self-destruction by burning will prevent these injuries in the future.
Databáze: Supplemental Index