Long-Term Psychosocial Sequelae

Abstract

Recent advances in the medical care of burns have resulted in an increased survival rate for pediatric and adult burn victims (see Fratianne & Brandt, this volume). Although technological and surgical innovations have resulted in reduced mortality rates, purportedly there has been a concomitant increase in the physical and psychosocial morbidity associated with the treatment and rehabilitation of pediatric burn patients (e.g., debridement, extended hospitalization) (Tarnowski, McGrath, Calhoun, & Drab-man, 1987). Pediatric burn survivors must often live with permanent disfigurement and physical disabilities (Hurt & Tarnowski, 1990; Tarnowski & Brown, in press-a,b; Tarnowski & Rasnake, 1989; Tarnowski, Rasnake, & Drabman, 1987). In addition, the parents and uninjured siblings of pediatric burn survivors are considered to be an at-risk population as they must face the numerous challenges associated with the traumatic injury of a family member.KeywordsBody ImageTotal Body Surface AreaEmotional AdjustmentPediatric PsychologyFacial DisfigurementThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.