Psychiatric illness and substance abuse are well-described risk factors for burn injury.1-3 The treatment of burn patients with psychiatric illness is challenging as their hospital course is often complicated by withdrawal symptoms, agitation, delirium, and significant pain.4-6 Furthermore, studies have shown that preexisting psychiatric diseases are associated with delayed wound healing, an increase of surgical operations, prolonged hospital stay, and slower rehabilitation.7 For these reasons, a multidisciplinary approach to burncare, incorporating a psychiatric service, might be beneficial and could potentially improve patient outcomes.
Along these lines, in June 2009, a dedicated staff psychiatrist joined our Burn Service at the Sumner Redstone Burn Center. His main tasks consisted of assisting with inpatient management of pain, agitation, and delirium; directing the outpatient burn psychiatry clinic; and
implementing/ coordinating an educational curriculum for medical students,
residents, fellows (and other house staff members) centered on the role of
psychiatry in burn care.
