ResearcherID - CLICK HERE Scientific Journal Impact Factor (SJIF-2020) - CLICK HERE

IMPACT OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ON QUALITY OF LIFE OF SEVERE BURN VICTIMS

Dr. Faiqa Zia, Dr. Fatima Iqbal, Dr. Hashir Ashraf

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychiatric disorder following life threatening trauma including symptoms of intrusive thoughts, nightmares, hyperarousal, and negative emotions lasting for more than one month. Burn injury is a traumatic experience that affects the quality of life as a negative impact on physical, emotional and social aspects of quality of life. Objective: To assess the impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on the quality of life of severe burn victims. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place of Study: This study was performed in Mayo Hospital Lahore. Study Period: The study was conducted for 3 months period. Materials And Methods: A population based cross-sectional study was conducted in Mayo Hospital Lahore. A total of 81 subjects were recruited by simple random sampling and selection was made on the basis of PTSD evaluated by using the DSM-5 criteria after taking due consent. Interview was conducted through pretested questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF scoring scale). Data was collected and analyzed through SPSS version 16.0. Frequency, means and standard deviation were used to describe variables. Results: Our study was conducted on 81 severe burn victims (49 males; 32 females) visiting the burn unit and surgical wards of Mayo Hospital Lahore. Age of victims was ranging from 16 to 76 years with majority of population lying within the age group 16-36 years (39 males & 27 females). Of these 35 (12 females & 23 males) were unmarried 46 were married (20 females & 26 males). ). Among them 22(8 females & 14 males) out of 81 considered themselves to be currently ill. PTSD symptoms according to criterion DSM-5 including stressor, intrusive symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, alterations in arousal and reactivity and persistence of symptoms for more than one month were found in all burn patients in different ratios. Quality of life of these patients was measured by using the WHO_BREF scoring scale. According to it Quality of life was to be assessed under the four domains of Physical, Psychological, Social and Environmental. The mean value calculated from the data for physical health was 55.54±18, for psychological 57.55±13, for social 63.47±20 and for environmental domain was 52.89±19. Conclusion: Quality of life in burn victims is determined through various factors. However, our study showed that PTSD in burn patients effects life of patients hampering their recovery both physically and mentally. Hence, moral support should be provoked in society in order to help burn victims to come out of psychological stress despite their physical disability and to improve their quality of life. Key words: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), burns, severe burns, Quality of life.

FULL TEXT