Clinical and Psychiatric Characteristics of Self-Inflicted Burn Patients in the United States: Comparison with a Nonintentional Burn Group

The main objective of the present study was to examine whether self-inflicted burn patients would differ from nonintentional, nonwork related burn patients on psychiatric and personality characteristics. Sociodemographic and injury related factors were also compared. Self-inflicted (N = 15) and nonintentional (N = 178) burn patient samples were drawn from a larger study examining physical and psychosocial outcomes following major burn. Psychiatric/personality factors included self-reported psychiatric treatment history, alcohol/drug use, preburn mental health (Short Form Health Survey-12 MCS) and neuroticism (NEO five factor inventory). Sociodemographic factors and injury related factors were obtained through medical records. Comparisons between the self-inflicted and the nonintentional groups were made using Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous variables. The self-inflicted group was 11.5 times more likely to report prior psychiatric treatment relative to the nonintentional burn group (P <.001) and 4.3 times more likely to have previously abused alcohol (P =.02). Compared to nonintentional burn patients, self-inflicted burn patients reported worse preburn mental health (P <.001). There were no differences on TBSA (P =.52) or sociodemographic characteristics (P values >.08). Relative to survivors of nonintentional burns, self-inflicted burn patients in the United States demonstrate high psychiatric comorbidity. Standards of care must be developed to optimize treatment procedures and recovery outcomes in this subgroup.