Citation

Hong N, Jung MH, Kim JW, Chun W, Choi IG, Kang TC, Kee BS, Lee BC. Clin. Psychopharmacol. Neurosci. 2016; 14(3): 295-298.

Affiliation

Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology)

DOI

10.9758/cpn.2016.14.3.295

PMID

27489384

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Major burn injuries are strongly associated with both psychological trauma and severe pain, and opioids are the mainstay analgesics for the treatment of severe burn pain. The objectives of this study are to find the complex relationship between opioid dose, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during the acute management of pain in burn patients.

METHODS: The symptoms of depression and PTSD were assessed in 43 burn patients immediately following wound stabilization and 2 weeks after the initial evaluation.

RESULTS: Total opioid doses and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores obtained during the second evaluation were positively but weakly correlated after controlling for age and total burn surface area (R=0.33, p=0.03). Moreover, pain management with opioids was significantly more common in burn patients with low Clinician Administered PTSD Scale scores (evaluation 1) and high HAMD scores (evaluation 2) (F=6.66, p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: High opioid dose following acute burn trauma might have correlation with depressive symptoms. Monitoring of depressive symptoms may be important following acute burn trauma and consequent opioids pain management, particularly when PTSD symptoms appear minimal during the early stabilization of patients.

Language: en