Psychology associated with mass burn disasters

Abstract

Abstract Mental breakdowns occur in war as well as in mass disasters. Not only are men exposed to far more stress, but they are expected to stand up to it and are not permitted to escape. The question why these mental breakdowns occur can be asked and could be explained by the following: 1. 1. Mass disasters initiate much impulsive to irrational behaviour of the victims as well as of their relatives. 2. 2. The severely burned are not aware of the seriousness of their injury, as they are influenced by biopsychic impulses and by emotional factors. 3. 3. A great number of burned patients die not only because of their physical injury, but also because they often have little chance of surviving in the general panic. 4. 4. Developing burn injury is concomitantly associated with psychologic and psychiatric symptoms. 5. 5. Psychological aspects and measures help the doctor to differentiate the cases and consider the risks to the lives of the individual victims. On the basis of the above considerations the authors worked out a model of psychological management and treatment during disasters: personnel and technical equipment of the so called centre for information and psychological support, and of the so called psycho-accommodation stations. The cooperation of these improvised facilities with the other strategic points of the emergency is discussed.