BURN REHABILITATON FORUM

Abstract

This article describes psychometric assessment instruments that are available for the screening of psychosocial problems that can interfere with patient rehabilitation. Structured assessment of patient depression, anxiety, substance abuse, social support, and willingness to take control and responsibility for health care is important throughout all stages of the patient's treatment. There are psychometrically sound, relatively brief, and nonintrusive measures with which to assess these variables. The hope is that the early and accurate identification of those patients who are in need of psychosocial services can lead to the implementation of services that will ameliorate psychosocial problems and facilitate total patient rehabilitation. Although many excellent measures exist, the most important assessment tool for the screening of psychosocial problems in patients with burns, which has emerged from this review, is the Psychological Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS). The PAIS integrates many of the relevant characteristics of psychologic screening and provides normative values that are specific to patients with burns. Ideally, this scale should be supplemented by an assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and personality and coping styles, because these critical factors are not adequately covered by the PAIS. Finally, the Burn Specific Health Scale shows promise for the assessment of health status and quality of life in patients with burns. Future clinical research will hopefully compare and contrast the efficacy and relevance of these measures. Furthermore, future clinical evaluation and research will need to relate the influence of psychosocial factors on the patient's total health functioning. Structured psychometric evaluation of the psychosocial and health characteristics will ensure that patients who have been burned will attain the most fulfilling quality of life that is available to them.