A pilot study exploring the relationship between trauma symptoms and appearance concerns following burns

Shepherd, Laura J.

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2014.07.001

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…8–11 Most follow-up investigations are on burn patients, which also suffer from an altered physical appearance. 12–15 The purpose of our study is to report about the midterm outcomes of patients who survived NF using two standardized outcome scores.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Necrotizing fasciitis and the midterm outcomes after survival

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and Aims: Radical surgical intervention is necessary to save patients’ lives in cases of necrotizing fasciitis. This leads to persistent disabilities and most likely to a deteriorated quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the midterm outcomes after survival of necrotizing fasciitis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 69 patients, treated for necrotizing fasciitis between 2003 and 2012. The patients were identified using the International Classification of Diseases (10th Revision) code M 72.6. Of the 50 survivors, 22 patients completed the Short Form 36 and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment questionnaires as a postal survey. The follow-up averaged 59 months (range: 6–128 months). Results: The average age at the time of necrotizing fasciitis was 60.0 years. The body mass index average was 29.7. The patients had a significantly decreased physical component summary score of 33.3 compared to a normative group (p < 0.001) (Short Form 36). They further showed a significantly decreased dysfunction and bother indices (Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment) (p < 0.001). An increased age (⩾70 years) was associated with an inferior role emotional (p = 0.048) and physical functioning (p = 0.011) as well as social functioning (p = 0.038) (Short Form 36). The majority of patients (16, 72.7%) complained of pain at the final follow-up and 50% of patients required an assistive device on a regular basis. Conclusion: Patients who survived necrotizing fasciitis suffer from functional impairment and changed body appearance. Assistive devices or pain medication are often required, and the patients present with significantly decreased physical, social, and emotional functioning at the midterm follow-up. The patient’s age is a critical factor regarding functional or mental outcome parameters. Further research on the post-hospital course and long-term multidisciplinary care is required to improve the outcomes of these patients.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Necrotizing fasciitis and the midterm outcomes after survival

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It has been posited that cognitive schema associated with the value placed on appearance (appearance salience), and the perception of attractiveness (appearance valence) play a pivotal role in adjusting to disfigurement in a similar fashion to as played in PTSD (Cash, 202;Cash, 2011;Moss et al, 2014;Thompson, 2012). However, despite clinicians reporting an anecdotal relationship between distress associated with disfigurement and PTSD symptomatology, there are only a small number of studies that have begun to investigate this (Bryant, 1996;Fukunishi, 1999;Roberts, Difede, & Yurt, 2001;Shepherd, 2015). Fukunishi (1999) examined the relationship between the visibility of scars and PTSD symptoms in 56 participants and found that regardless of the size of the scar, females with facial scarring experienced the highest levels of symptoms of trauma-related avoidance and emotional numbing.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may be suggestive of a potential relationship between PTSD and appearance concern due to trauma-related changes in appearance. Shepherd (2015) explored this relationship directly with a sample of 33 patients referred to a specialist clinical psychology burns service. A significant positive relationship was found between appearance concern and PTSD symptoms.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Posttraumatic stress symptomatology and appearance distress following burn injury: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: Although many traumatic incidents result in changes to appearance, little research has examined the experience of individuals distressed by such changes in connection with psychological processes involved in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to examine how PTSD and appearance concern associated with burn injury are experienced when both difficulties co-occur. Method: The qualitative method of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was utilized to provide a framework for building nuanced accounts of individual experience. In-depth analysis was conducted with interview data obtained from eight women, who were purposively selected on the basis of being distressed in relation to burn scarring, and having symptoms of PTSD. Results:Participants described how changes in appearance were experienced as maintaining a sense of threat through social stigma, and acting as a trigger for re-experiencing the traumatic incident that had caused the burn injury. As such, appearance concern and PTSD symptomatology appeared intertwined within the participantsÕ accounts of their post burn injury recovery. Conclusions: This is the first study to consider some of the processes through which PTSD and appearance concern might be mutually maintained. The results suggest that psychosocial interventions need to be tailored to simultaneously address processes related to concerns about change in appearance and also with traumatic reexperiencing.

show abstract

“…24 Shepherd found that age was negatively related to appearance concerns. 21 She also found a significant relationship between trauma symptoms and appearance concerns with people with higher trauma symptoms reporting more appearance concerns.…”

Section: Appearance Concern In Burns Survivorsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…18,19 The prevalence of PTSD has been found to be unrelated to the severity of the burn. 20,21 Research suggests that rates of PTSD are higher after interpersonal trauma (e.g. assault) than non-interpersonal trauma (e.g.…”

Section: Trauma Symptoms In Burns Survivorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors for peri-traumatic distress and appearance concerns in burn-injured inpatients identified by a screening tool

Oaie

Piepenstock

Williams

2018

Scars, Burns & Healing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction:Psychosocial screening of burn-injured patients is a National Burn Care Guideline and is increasingly used to identify individuals most in need of support. It can also generate data that can inform our understanding of patient reported concerns following a burn injury.Method:As part of routine care, 461 patients admitted to a burns unit were screened soon after admission using a psychosocial screen designed by the service. The questionnaire included items on pre-existing social support, coping, emotional and psychological difficulties, as well as current trauma symptoms and current level of concern about changed appearance following the burn.Results:Overall, patients reported low levels of appearance concerns (mean 3.7/10) and trauma symptoms (18% reporting flashbacks) in the initial days following a burn injury. In those who did report concerns, there were some significant associations with demographic and other variables. Patients who experienced flashbacks were younger and had a larger total body surface area (TBSA) burn. Higher levels of appearance concern were associated with younger women, larger TBSA and facial burns. However, the relationships found were weak and frequently confounded by other factors.Conclusion:Overall, the findings indicate that initial trauma symptoms and appearance concerns are not inevitable in this group and there is no substitute for screening in identifying who is most at risk.

show abstract

A pilot study exploring the relationship between trauma symptoms and appearance concerns following burns

Cited by 17 publications

References 26 publications

Necrotizing fasciitis and the midterm outcomes after survival

Necrotizing fasciitis and the midterm outcomes after survival

Posttraumatic stress symptomatology and appearance distress following burn injury: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Risk factors for peri-traumatic distress and appearance concerns in burn-injured inpatients identified by a screening tool

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About