Pathways Analysis for Depression in Hospitalized Acute Burn Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to develop a model of risk factors for depression in hospitalized burned patients. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients over 20 tears of age who were admitted to the Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital for burn injury, completed Structured Interview Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and itching after 1 month from burn. A path analytic strategy was used to develop a model of risk factors for depression in burned patients. RESULTS: Two pathways to depression were developed. 1) From sleep disturbance and then to depression 2) from burn pain to PTSD and then to depression. It was revealed that sleep disturbance and PTSD had a direct effect on depression, pain had both direct and indirect effect on depression. CONCLUSION: Sleep disturbance and PTSD are associated with depression in burned patients. The identification of two developmental pathways suggests the importance of establishing preventive interventions for depression.