Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2016 Aug;14(3):295-298. 10.9758/cpn.2016.14.3.295.

Opioid Analgesics and Depressive Symptoms in Burn Patients: What Is the Real Relationship?

• Hong N
• Jung MH
• Kim JW
• Chun W
• Choi IG
• Kang TC
• Kee BS
• Lee BC

• KMID: 2348478
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2016.14.3.295

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Major burn injuries are strongly associated with both psychological trauma and severe pain, and opioids are the mainstay analgesics for the treatment of severe burn pain. The objectives of this study are to find the complex relationship between opioid dose, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during the acute management of pain in burn patients.
METHODS
The symptoms of depression and PTSD were assessed in 43 burn patients immediately following wound stabilization and 2 weeks after the initial evaluation.
RESULTS
Total opioid doses and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores obtained during the second evaluation were positively but weakly correlated after controlling for age and total burn surface area (R=0.33, p=0.03). Moreover, pain management with opioids was significantly more common in burn patients with low Clinician Administered PTSD Scale scores (evaluation 1) and high HAMD scores (evaluation 2) (F=6.66, p=0.001).
CONCLUSION
High opioid dose following acute burn trauma might have correlation with depressive symptoms. Monitoring of depressive symptoms may be important following acute burn trauma and consequent opioids pain management, particularly when PTSD symptoms appear minimal during the early stabilization of patients.

Keyword

Burns; Depression; Post-traumatic stress disorders; Opioid analgesics

MeSH Terms

Analgesics
Analgesics, Opioid*
Burns*
Depression*
Humans
Pain Management
Psychological Trauma
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Wounds and Injuries
Analgesics
Analgesics, Opioid