Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Depression in Mothers of Children with Severe Burn Injuries

This study examined posttraumatic stress symptoms and depressive symptoms in mothers of children with burn injuries from accidentally falling into a bathtub filled with hot water. Subjects were 16 pairs, children with burn injuries and their mothers. Psychiatric interviews were administered to the mothers to check the presence or absence of mental disorders. The severity of mothers' depressive symptoms was rated on the Hamilton Depression Scale. Prevalence rates of DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression were 6.3% and 0% in children with burn injury and 12.5% and 18.8% in their mothers, respectively. For three symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (intense distress at similar event, restricted range of affect, and hypervigilance), prevalence rates were significantly higher for the mothers than for the children. Ratings of the three symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder for the mothers were significantly and positively correlated with scores for guilt feelings. Compared with children with burn injury, mothers are prone to posttraumatic stress symptoms mixed with guilt feelings for children with burn injury.