A cross sectional study of socio-demographic profile and acute stress disorder in suicidal burn patients

ABSTRACT

Background: The experience of being burnt and the treatment that follows for the survivors are one of the most frightening and painful experience known to humanity. It carries a huge psychological burden on patients. Acute stress disorder which occurs in the first month and post-traumatic stress disorder that occurs after one month are more common after burns than other forms of injury. Aim and objectives: To study socio demographic profile in suicidal attempters by burns, to access for acute stress reaction in those patients. Materials and methods: A total of 60 cases of suicidal burns patients fulfilling criteria for study were taken. Semi -structured proforma for socio demographic and clinical variables were used. Becks suicidal intent scale and impact of event scale were administered to the patients. The data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: There was high preponderance of female subjects in the study and mostly of the patients belonged to lower socio economic status in the study. Most of the subjects were either illiterates or having primary education and belongs to nuclear family. There was high percentage of marital disharmony and strained inter personal relationship in the subjects. Almost all were deep burns in the study and most common vehicle used was kerosene. Patient of high risk group had more risk of developing acute stress reaction and post-traumatic stress disorders than in medium risk group. High risk group had more scores on both intrusive and avoidance subscale of impact of event scale. Conclusion: There was high preponderance of female subjects in the study. There was higher representation of lower socio economic status in the study. Most of the subjects were either illiterates or having primary education. Many of the subjects belonged to nuclear family. There was high percentage of marital disharmony and strained inter personal relationship in the subjects. Patient of J. Mayurnath Reddy, CH. Siva Kumar. A cross sectional study of socio-demographic profile and acute stress disorder in suicidal burn patients. IAIM, 2019; 6(7) 17-27. Page 18 high risk group had more risk of developing acute stress reaction and post-traumatic stress disorders than in medium risk group. High risk group had more scores on both intrusive and avoidance subscale of impact of event scale.