‘Anxiety and Depression of patients with burn injury and related factors: A cross-sectional study’

Abstract

Background: Burn injuries can lead to profound physical and psychological impacts, significantly affecting survivors' mental health. Anxiety and depression are common psychological outcomes among burn patients, influenced by socio-demographic and burn-related factors. This study aimed to determine the frequency of anxiety and depression in burn patients, assess the socio-demographic distribution of psychological distress, and identify the association between burn characteristics and mental health outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 80 burn injury patients admitted to the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a socio demographic questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and analyzed using SPSS Version 25 with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: The mean age of participants was 25.5 years. Males (77.5%) and rural residents (68.8%) predominated the sample. Electrical burns (58.8%) were the most frequent cause. Moderate levels of anxiety (32.5%) and depression (51.2%) were most common. Significant associations were found between gender and anxiety (p=0.001), age and depression (p=0.041), and marital status and depression (p=0.004). Conclusion: The study highlights a high prevalence of anxiety and depression among burn patients, emphasizing the need for psychological screening, early intervention, and integrated mental health services in burn care rehabilitation programs. Keywords: Burn injury, Anxiety, Depression, Socio-demographic factors, Mental health outcomes.