Quality of life and psychopathological risk of burn patients: A narrative review

Despite the advances of medicine and surgery, burn traumas still represent a significant cause of impairment and disability, which exert a significant impact on quality of life and are related to several psychopathological outcomes, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. This narrative non-systematic review aims at outlining the main findings related to quality of life, psychopathological symptoms, risk and protective factors, assessment tools, and psychological interventions targeted to burn patients. Results show that the natural history of burn injuries is a complex process involving a variety of factors, such as body image dissatisfaction, coping strategies, and social support. It seems clear that the assessment of burn trauma should consider not only functional and aesthetic features, but also psychological and social consequences. Furthermore, it is fundamental that, in addition to surgical, medical, and rehabilitation treatments, psychological interventions would be available to burn patients and their family members.