Psychiatric Disorders, Delirium and Mortality in Patients Referred for Consultation in a Burn Center: A Four-Year Retrospective Study

Objective:The aim of this study was to examine psychiatric disorders after burn trauma and burn-related features in adults.Method: The records of the cases who were hospitalized in the burn center between January 2015 and January 2019 and for whom psychiatric consultation was requested were retrospectively reviewed.Sociodemographic characteristics, burn-related features, psychiatric diagnoses, and treatments of the patients were examined. Results:The mean rate of psychiatric consultations requested in a burn center within a four-year period was 34.05% and 49 (28.5%) of these consulted cases had a work-related accident.Mean hospitalization time was 37.2±24 days and the most common burn type was a fire/flame injury.In the majority of the study sample (63.4%) the total body surface area burnt was more than 20%.Nineteen (11%) cases had a history of psychiatric disorder.The most common psychiatric diagnosis before burn injury was alcohol-drug addiction (n=14, 73.7%).The most common diagnosis after psychiatric consultation was adjustment disorder (31.9%).Among psychotropic drugs the initial treatment was started most frequently treatment with benzodiazepines (30.8%) and antipsychotics (58.1%).In 33 deceased cases, the most common psychiatric diagnosis was delirium with a rate of 42.4%. Conclusion:The incidence of psychiatric disorders before and after burn injury was found to be high in the individuals.Conditions with a high risk of morbidity and mortality, such as delirium, should be diagnosed and treated priorly.Due to the early and long-term effects of burn trauma, a multidisciplinary approach should be developed and psychiatrists should be included in the management of treatment.