Article

Personality disorders (PDs) are associated with significant distress,
disability, and cause great difficulties in life. PDs have been suggested to
influence adaptation after major burns, but the potential relationship has not
been fully elucidated. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of PDs in 107
patients with major burn injury, and to identify the impact of PDs on perceived
patient outcome assessed as health-related quality of life (HRQoL) one year after
burn. METHODS: One burn-specific instrument (Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief
(BSHS-B)) and two generic instruments (EuroQol Five Dimensions and Short Form 36
Health Survey) were used, and Psychiatric Axis I and II disorders were assessed
one year post burn. RESULTS: This study identified an above normal prevalence of
PDs among individuals afflicted by burn, and participants with PD had a
significantly larger lifetime burden of Axis I disorders compared to participants
without PD. Participants with PDs scored significantly lower than those without
PD in the BSHS-B domain Skin involvement, and the effect of having a PD was
related to the subscale Treatment regimens. There was no relationship between the
presence of PD and generic HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: An implication of these
observations is that special rehabilitation efforts including more tailored
interventions must be offered to these patients to ensure that the obstacles they
perceive to caring for themselves in this respect are eliminated. IMPLICATIONS
FOR REHABILITATION: This study identified an above normal prevalence of PDs among
individuals afflicted by burn and these individuals reported poor burn-specific
health-related quality of life. The identification of difficulties with
compliance and endurance regarding daily skin care may cause negative
consequences for optimal rehabilitation and underscore the importance of offering
more tailored interventions in rehabilitation. Inflexible behavioral patterns
related to the PD diagnosis imply the need for communication strategies by the
rehabilitation team, which include flexibility, creativity, and diplomacy. There
is a need for further research focusing on identifying the factors that
facilitate the individual's own ability to take action and have control.

Langue : ANGLAIS