Psychological aspects of treating children and adolescents with severe burns

Abstract:

During the surgical treatment of children and adolescents with severe burns, psychological support is essential for the children, adolescents and their parents. Hospital treatment takes months and sometimes more than a year. Children and parents are going through various, mostly negative psychological states before they accept reality and are able to cope with the injuries, disabilities and aesthetic changes. In children with severe burns there is always an acute reaction to a traumatic event, often followed by a post-traumatic stress disorder and adjustment disorders. Surgical treatment is associated with several procedures under general anesthesia, diagnostic tests, complications due to secondary infections, using a variety of different and symptomatic medications, prolonged immobilization with restrictions, painful physical therapy, suffering from hunger, thirst and pain, and chronic physical and mental exhaustion. In addition to the various psychotherapeutic techniques and occupational therapy, various psychiatric drugs are used where the application depends on the indication, psycho-physical condition and age of the child. The mental state and behavior of the parents can either help or hinders the entire treatment. Synchronized teamwork of different experts is crucial to the success of the treatment. 

Key words:
adolescents; burns; children; psychological aspects