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. 2016 Aug 31;14(3):295-8.
doi: 10.9758/cpn.2016.14.3.295.

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

Narei Hong  1 , Myung Hun Jung  1 , Jee Wook Kim  2 , Wook Chun  3 , Ihn-Geun Choi  4 , Tae-Cheon Kang  5 , Baik Seok Kee  6 , Boung-Chul Lee  7
Affiliations

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

Narei Hong et al. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. .

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.

Keywords: Burns; Depression; Opioid analgesics; Post-traumatic stress disorders.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Total opioid dose according to the first interview CAPS scores (high- and low-ASD groups) and the second interview HAMD scores (high- and low-HAMD groups). HAMD, Hamilton Depression Scale; ASD, acute stress disorder; CAPS, Clinician- Administered Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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