Posttraumatic stress disorder in electric burn patients.

It was hypothesized that burn injuries electric in origin may have a poor prognosis for rehabilitation and return to work. Ten electrically injured burn patients were compared to seven patients whose burns were nonelectric, after all 17 had shown clinically significant emotional problems during rehabilitation. Results of psychological tests from both groups were also compared to results in three other groups: psychiatric, chronic pain, and blepharospasm patients. Results indicated that patients with electric burns had the most severe psychopathologic symptoms and the least likelihood of returning to work. Only the factor of educational background was predictive of degree of psychological distress, prognosis for returning to work, and response to psychological intervention. Results are discussed within a one-trial aversive conditioning paradigm potentially unique to electric injuries.