Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Acute Posttrauma Distress: A Randomized, Controlled Proof-of-Concept Study Among Hospitalized Adults With Burns

Unravelling the impact of prior depression and trauma-related cognitive processes on depression following trauma: A 2-year prospective study of burn survivors

OBJECTIVE

Individuals with severe burn injuries may develop depression, yet knowledge about psychological risk factors for depression following trauma is limited. This study investigated the prospective impact and interplay of prior depression and trauma-related cognitive processes (posttraumatic negative appraisals and trauma-related rumination) to depressive symptoms between 6 and 24 months after burn injury.

METHOD

Taiwanese adult survivors of burn (N = 118) participated in surveys immediately post-burn and at 6-, 12-, and 24-months follow-up. Participants were 7 5% men, with an average age of 41.8 years and an average of TBSA of 18.3%.

RESULTS

A total of 8.5%, 5.9%, and 4.2% met criteria for probable major depression at 6, 12, and 24 months post-burn, respectively. The prevalence increased to 23.7%, 11.0%, and 5.9% using the cutoff on the PHQ-9. Prior depression and trauma-related cognitive processes immediately post-burn explained 13.5%, 20.5%, and 18.6% of the variance in depressive symptoms at 6, 12, and 24 months post-burn, respectively. Posttraumatic negative appraisals strongly predicted depressive symptoms post-burn across follow-ups. Moreover, posttraumatic negative appraisals significantly mediated the effect of prior depression on subsequent depressive symptoms across follow-ups. Prior depression significantly moderated the effect of trauma-related rumination on depressive symptoms at 6 months post-burn.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results are the first to demonstrate the role and interplay of prior depression and trauma-related cognitive processes in post-burn depression. Findings highlight that pre-and post-trauma psychological factors jointly affect depression following trauma, broadening the applicability of cognitive theories of PTSD.

Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety-Related Disorders: A Meta-Analysis of Recent Literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Effective treatment of anxiety-related disorders is crucial, considering the prevalence of such disorders and their association with poor psychosocial functioning. To evaluate the most recent evidence on the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety-related disorders in adults, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials published since 2017.

RECENT FINDINGS

Ten studies with a total of 1250 participants met the inclusion criteria. Seven of these studies examined PTSD. The findings demonstrated small placebo-controlled effects of CBT on target disorder symptoms (Hedges' g = 0.24, p < 0.05) and depression (Hedges' g = 0.15, p = n.s). When examining only PTSD studies, effects were reduced (Hedges' g = 0.14, p < 0.05). Heterogeneity in most analyses was very low, and no publication bias was found. Effect sizes from placebo-controlled trials from the past 5 years appear to be smaller than those in prior meta-analyses. The findings are largely driven by research on PTSD, with few placebo-controlled trials of other anxiety-related disorders published since 2017.

Researches on cognitive sequelae of burn injury: Current status and advances

Burn injury is a devastating disease with high incidence of disability and mortality. The cognitive dysfunctions, such as memory defect, are the main neurological sequelae influencing the life quality of burn-injured patients. The post-burn cognitive dysfunctions are related to the primary peripheral factors and the secondary cerebral inflammation, resulting in the destruction of blood-brain barrier (BBB), as is shown on Computed Tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging examinations. As part of the neurovascular unit, BBB is vital to the nutrition and homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS) and undergoes myriad alterations after burn injury, causing post-burn cognitive defects. The diagnosis and treatment of cognitive dysfunctions as burn injury sequelae are of great importance. In this review, we address the major manifestations and interventions of post-burn cognitive defects, as well as the mechanisms involved in memory defect, including neuroinflammation, destruction of BBB, and hormone imbalance.

"Through the fire and flames, we carry on:" Art Therapy Small N Feasibility Study with Adult Burn Patients in an Acute Care Setting

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of facilitating four sessions of art therapy intervention with a primary focus on implementation and acceptability. The exploratory aim was on assessing the impact of art therapy on self-reported outcomes on anxiety and mood among 5 individuals (aged 18+ years) hospitalized for burn injuries and to understand their perceptions of engagement with art therapy. A convergent mixed methods small N design was adopted wherein both quantitative and qualitative data are gathered and then integrated, and an individual served as his/her own control when assessed before and after art therapy. Anxiety was assessed using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety short-form of the emotional distress bank, and mood was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). There was a statistically significant decrease in anxiety scores and negative mood scale. Positive mood scale scores tended to improve after art therapy though were not statistically significant. Thematic analysis of qualitative data indicates that art therapy improves a) symptom management, b) facilitates emotional expression and c) insight, d) brings out symbolic and metaphorical representations, and e) allows tactile and sensory exploration of art media. This study demonstrated that art therapy can be successfully implemented with acute burn patients and can have promising psychosocial benefits. More research in needed to determine the impact and effectiveness of art therapy with burn patients, in ways that is meaningful to the patients.

Breaking Silos to Address Medical Trauma: The Need for Integration of Trauma and Health Psychology Training

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following a traumatic injury is a significant public health concern impacting approximately a third of traumatically injured patients. In 2018, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma recommended implementation of PTSD screening and brief intervention in level 1 trauma centers to meet the mental health needs of this underserved population. In March 2022, ACS revised its standards to include a requirement for mental health screening and referral process in level 1 and level 2 trauma centers. However, implementation of these programs has been limited. One barrier to implementation has been the lack of cross-trained trauma and health psychologists to support the development and implementation of trauma-focused programs in acute and critical care settings. This paper is a call to action to bring together experts in the fields of trauma and health psychology to effectively address training gaps in post-injury PTSD and medical traumatic stress. Through development of trauma and health psychology cross-training models, the field of psychology can collaborate to meet the increasing demand for trauma-focused psychologists in acute and critical care settings.

Psychotherapeutic interventions for burns patients and the potential use with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis patients: A systematic integrative review

Background

The existing evidence demonstrates that survivors of SJS/TEN have reported long-lasting psychological effects of their condition. Burns patients experience similar psychological effects. It is important to look at ways to help allay the psychological complications of SJS/TEN. As there is an absence of evidence on SJS/TEN psychotherapeutic interventions, it was judged to be beneficial to determine the evidence underpinning psychotherapeutic interventions used with burns patients.

Aims and objectives

The aim of this systematic integrative review was to synthesize the evidence relating to psychotherapeutic interventions used with adult burns patients and patients with SJS/TEN.

Method

The systematic review was guided by Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative review process and the PRISMA guidelines. Nine databases were searched for English and French language papers published January 2008 to January 2021. The protocol for the review was registered with PROSPERO.

Results

Following a screening process, 17 studies were included in the review. Two themes were identified using content analysis, (i) Empirically supported psychotherapeutic treatments, (ii) Alternative psychotherapeutic treatments. This review revealed no evidence on specific psychotherapeutic interventions for patients with SJS/TEN. Some of the interventions used with burns patients, viz. relaxation therapy, hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy showed some significant benefits. However, the evidence for burns patients is mainly focused on pain and pain anxiety as outcomes.

Conclusion

Following further research, some of the interventions deployed in burns patients may be applicable to SJS/TEN patients, particularly stress reduction techniques. In addition, the caring behaviours such as compassion, respect, and getting to know the patient as a person are important components to psychological care.

Posttraumatic stress disorder in burn patient: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Burns often cause severe physical and mental suffering and can become a trigger for the development of permanent psychological diseases, even after wound healing. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one such disorder, which involves the re-experiencing of many symptoms provoked by a previous traumatic situation.

METHOD

This study is a systematic review of interventions used to reduce or prevent PTSD symptoms in burn victims. We included randomized clinical trials that described therapeutic interventions for the prevention of PTSD in burn patients. The search was conducted in the databases EMBASE and PUBMED/Medline between 2009 and 2020, and the main variables evaluated were%TBSA, age, number of hospitalization days, type of intervention, follow-up time and results. The analysis of the bias risk was carried out according to the guidance in the Cochrane Handbook for Bias Risk Assessment.

RESULTS

Eight clinical trials were selected: three of them were performed in children, and five involved adults. The most common bias risks were related to participant/researcher blinding and loss of follow-up. Two interventions were identified: a pharmacological intervention and a psychological intervention. Medications (sertraline and propanolol) were not effective in reducing stress symptoms. Four studies used cognitive-behavioral therapies, which achieved the best results for PTSD improvement in burn patients. Hypnosis and an informational education program were also evaluated and did not show success in reducing PTSD.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive-behavioral therapies may work to reduce PTSD symptoms in burn patients, and when they are adopted early by burn units, they may improve the psychological condition of burn patients.

Intensive Care-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Biopsychosocial Overview

Advancements in critical care medicine have improved survival rates for patients experiencing critical illness in intensive care units (ICUs). While mortality has declined, more than half of ICU survivors experience functional impairments that persist beyond discharge. Of particular concern is ICU-related cognitive impairment, which can extend across the care continuum, ranging from acute and transient presentations in the ICU (eg, delirium) to long-term impairments years after discharge. ICU-related cognitive impairment has received increased attention in the literature, particularly as it relates to ICU survivors who have received and survived critical care in the context of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and are now experiencing post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The medical complexity and heterogeneity of ICU survivors, coupled with the multifactorial etiology of ICU-related cognitive impairments, lead to challenges in how to optimize care for ICU survivors at various stages of recovery. This review aims to provide an overview of cognitive outcomes associated with critical illness by integrating recent literature focused on etiology, assessment, and interventions in the context of ICU-related cognitive impairments. The narrative review employs a biopsychosocial framework to comprehensively evaluate the multifactorial nature of ICU-related cognitive outcomes. Authors also highlight multidisciplinary teams composed of key rehabilitation providers are likely best suited for optimizing recovery trajectories of ICU survivors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Bio-Psychological Predictors of Acute and Protracted Fatigue After Burns: A Longitudinal Study

Objective

Fatigue after burns is often attributed to the hyperinflammatory and hypermetabolic response, while it may be best understood from a bio-psychological perspective, also involving the neuro-endocrine system. This longitudinal multi-center study examined the course of fatigue up to 18 months postburn. The contribution of bio-psychological factors, including burn severity, pain, and acute PTSD symptoms, to the course and persistence of fatigue was studied in a multifactorial model.

Methods

Participants were 247 adult burn survivors. Fatigue symptoms were assessed with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory during the acute phase and subsequently at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months postburn, and were compared to population norms. Age, gender, burn severity, acute PTSD symptoms and pain were assessed as potential predictors of fatigue over time in a latent growth model.

Results

At 18 months postburn, 46% of the burn survivors reported fatigue, including 18% with severe fatigue. In the acute phase, higher levels of fatigue were related to multiple surgeries, presence of pain, and higher levels of acute PTSD symptoms. Fatigue gradually decreased over time with minor individual differences in rate of decrease. At 18 months, pain and acute PTSD symptoms remained significant predictors of fatigue levels.

Conclusions

Protracted fatigue after burns was found in almost one out of five burn survivors and was associated with both pain and acute PTSD symptoms. Early detection of PTSD symptoms and early psychological interventions aimed at reducing PTSD symptoms and pain may be warranted to reduce later fatigue symptoms.

A pilot study of trained ICU doulas providing early psychological support to critically ill patients

Background

Over a third of critical illness survivors suffer from mental health problems following hospitalization. Memories of delusional experiences are a major risk factor. In this project, ICU doulas delivered a unique positive suggestion intervention targeting the vulnerable time period during critical illness when these memories are formed.

Methods

Adult critically ill patients were recruited for this single-arm, prospective pilot study. These ICU patients received a positive suggestion intervention daily during their ICU stay in parallel with their medical treatment. The intervention was designed to be delivered over a minimum of two sessions. Feasibility was defined as intervention delivery on ≥ 70% of ICU days after patient enrollment. As a secondary analysis, psychometric questionnaires were compared to those of a historic control cohort of patients receiving standard care in the ICU using adjusted linear regression models.

Results

Of the 97 patients who received the intervention and were alive at the end of their ICU course, 54 were excluded from analyses mostly for having received only one session because of a short ICU length of stay of < 2 days, transitioning to comfort care or not wanting to answer the study questionnaires. Forty-three patients who completed 2 or more sessions of the positive therapeutic suggestion intervention provided by two trained ICU doulas received it for a median of 4 days (IQR 3, 5), with each session lasting for a median of 20 min (IQR 14, 25). The intervention was delivered on 71% of days, meeting our pre-determined feasibility goal. Compared to historical controls (N = 299), patients receiving the intervention had higher severity of illness and longer length of stay. When adjusted for baseline differences, patients both with and without mechanical ventilation who received the intervention scored lower on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)—Depression subscale. The intervention was also associated with reduced HADS-Anxiety subscale among ventilated patients.

Conclusions

Positive therapeutic suggestion delivered by ICU doulas is feasible in the ICU setting. A randomized trial is warranted to better delineate the role that positive suggestion and ICU doulas may play in ongoing interprofessional efforts to humanize critical care medicine.

The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03736954) on 03/14/2018 prior to the first patient enrollment https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03736954?cond=ICU+Doulas+Providing+Psychological+Support&draw=2&rank=1.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-021-03856-3.

Pain and Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Clusters: A Cross-Lagged Study

Pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently co-occur but underlying mechanisms are not clear. This study aimed to test the development and maintenance of pain and PTSD symptom clusters, i.e., intrusions, avoidance, and hyperarousal. The longitudinal study included 216 adults with burns. PTSD symptom clusters, indexed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and pain, using a graphic numerical rating scale (GNRS), were measured during hospitalization, 3 and 6 months post-burn. Cross-lagged panel analysis was used to test the relationships between pain and PTSD symptom clusters. Cross-lagged results showed that in-hospital intrusions predicted pain and avoidance 3 months post-burn. In-hospital pain predicted intrusions and avoidance 3 months post-burn and a trend was found for hyperarousal (90% CI). In the second wave, intrusions predicted pain and hyperarousal. Pain predicted hyperarousal. This study provides support for an entangled relationship between pain and PTSD symptoms, and particularly subscribes the role of intrusions in this bidirectional relationship. To a lesser extent, hyperarousal was unidirectionally related to pain. These results may subscribe the driving role of PTSD, particularly intrusions, which partly supports the Perpetual Avoidance Model.

A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Informed Self-Management Program for Acute Respiratory Failure Survivors: A Feasibility Study

Background: The number of people surviving critical illness is rising rapidly around the globe. Survivorship comes at a cost, with approximately half of patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) experiencing clinically significant symptoms of anxiety, and 32–40% of survivors having substantial anxiety symptoms in the months or years after hospitalization. Methods: This feasibility study reports on 11 consecutive ARF patients receiving up to six sessions of a psychological intervention for self-management of anxiety. Results: All 11 patients accepted and received the psychological intervention. Four patients did not fully complete all 6 sessions due to death (n = 1, 2 sessions completed), and early hospital discharge (n = 3, patients completed 2, 3 and 5 sessions). The median (IQR) score (range: 0–100; minimal clinically important difference: 13) for the Visual Analog Scale-Anxiety (VAS-A) pre-intervention was 70 (57, 75) points. During the intervention, all 11 patients had a decrease in VAS-A, with a median (IQR) decrease of 44 (19, 48) points. Conclusions: This self-management intervention appears acceptable and feasible to implement among ARF patients during and after an ICU stay.

Individual recovery of health-related quality of life during 18 months post-burn using a retrospective pre-burn measurement: an exploratory study

Purpose

This study explored the individual trajectories of health-related quality of life (HRQL) compared to recalled pre-burn level of HRQL and investigated whether burn severity and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms increase the risk of not returning to pre-burn level of HRQL.

Methods

Data were obtained from 309 adult patients with burns in a multicenter study. Patients completed the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire with a Cognition bolt-on shortly after hospital admission, which included a recalled pre-injury measure, and, again, at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months post-burn. Burn severity was indicated by the number of surgeries, and PTSD symptoms were assessed with the IES-R at three months post-burn. Pre- and post-injury HRQL were compared to norm populations.

Results

Recalled pre-injury HRQL was higher than population norms and HRQL at 18 months post-burn was comparable to population norms. Compared to the pre-injury level of functioning, four HRQL patterns of change over time were established: Stable, Recovery, Deterioration, and Growth. In each HRQL domain, a subset of patients did not return to their recalled pre-injury levels, especially with regard to Pain, Anxiety/Depression, and Cognition. Patients with more severe burns or PTSD symptoms were less likely to return to pre-injury level of functioning within 18 months post-burn.

Conclusion

This study identified four patterns of individual change. Patients with more severe injuries and PTSD symptoms were more at risk of not returning to their recalled pre-injury HRQL. This study supports the face validity of using a recalled pre-burn HRQL score as a reference point to monitor HRQL after burns.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s11136-020-02678-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

An Examination of Follow-up Services Received by Vulnerable Burn Populations: A Burn Model System National Database Study

While disparities in healthcare outcomes and services for vulnerable populations have been documented, the extent to which vulnerable burn populations demonstrate disparities in long-term care is relatively underexplored. This study's goal was to assess for differences in long-term occupational or physical therapy (OT/PT) and psychological service use after burn injury in vulnerable populations. Data from the Burn Model System National Database (2006-2015) were analyzed. The vulnerable group included participants in one or more of these categories: 65 years of age or older, nonwhite, no insurance or Medicaid insurance, preinjury receipt of psychological therapy or counseling, preinjury alcohol and/or drug misuse, or with a preexisting disability. Primary outcomes investigated were receipt of OT/PT and psychological services. Secondary outcomes included nine OT/PT subcategories. Outcomes were examined at 6, 12, and 24 months postinjury. One thousand one hundred thirty-six burn survivors (692 vulnerable; 444 nonvulnerable) were included. The vulnerable group was mostly female, unemployed at time of injury, and with smaller burns. Both groups received similar OT/PT and psychological services at all time points. Adjusted regression analyses found that while the groups received similar amounts services, some vulnerable subgroups received significantly more services. Participants 65 years of age or older, who received psychological therapy or counseling prior to injury, and with a preexisting disability received more OT/PT and psychological or peer support services at follow-up. Overall, vulnerable and nonvulnerable groups received comparable OT/PT and psychological services. The importance of long-term care among vulnerable subgroups of the burn population is highlighted by this study. Future work is needed to determine adequate levels of follow-up services.

Introduction to the NIDILRR Burn Model System (BMS) Program: Selected Findings II

A special supplement to the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2007 reported selected findings of research from the first 13 years of the BMS Centers and Database Coordinating Center. This special supplement is the second such effort and reports on the growth of the BMS National Longitudinal Database (BMS NDB) since that time and select new research findings from the BMS centers.

[The war in my head : A psychotraumatological case report after a prolonged intensive care unit stay]

Intensive care treatment is proven to be associated with patients' mental symptoms. There is a correlation between acute stress and psychological sequelae, which has not yet been sufficiently theoretically substantiated. This case report illustrates the development of mental symptoms during and after intensive care treatment with reference to a psychotraumatological model. Above all, memories that are not related to reality but are associated with fear of death are potentially traumatic. A re-evaluation of these memories can help to prevent psychological sequelae. Psychoeducation, conversation with the staff of the intensive care unit (ICU) and the ICU diary are helpful instruments in this process. Continuous psychological care should be provided if acute psychological stress occurs during intensive care medical treatment.