Increased self-immolation frequency and severity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Burns
; 48(4): 984-988, 2022 Jun.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1594380
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether the increased restrictions, isolation and stressors associated with COVID-19 led to an increase in rates or severity of self-immolation burn injuries.DESIGN:
Retrospective review of a prospectively-collected database of New South Wales burn patients, comparing 2020 data with the preceding 5 years.SETTING:
Both adult units in the New South Wales Statewide Burn Injury Service (Concord Repatriation General Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital).PARTICIPANTS:
All adult patients in New South Wales with self-inflicted burn injuries between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2020. OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Demographic information, precipitating factors, burn severity, morbidity and mortality outcomes.RESULTS:
We found18 episodes of self-immolation in 2020, compared to an average of 10 per year previously. Burn size significantly increased (43% total body surface area vs 28%) as did revised Baux score (92 vs 77). Most patients had a pre-existing psychiatric illness. Family conflict and acute psychiatric illness were the most common precipitating factors.CONCLUSION:
2020 saw an increase in both the frequency and severity of self-inflicted burn injuries in New South Wales, with psychiatric illness a major factor.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Burns
/
Self-Injurious Behavior
/
COVID-19
/
Mental Disorders
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Burns
Journal subject:
Traumatology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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