OBJECTIVE: This prospective longitudinal study examines the course of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in mothers of children with burns between 1 and 11 years after the burn event and the role of burn severity and feelings of guilt on this course. METHOD: Self-reported PTSS of 48 mothers were measured with the Impact of Event Scale. Guilt feelings were assessed during an in-depth interview 2 years after the burn event. Eleven years after the burn event, mothers marked their child's scars at the present time on a drawing. RESULTS: Over a period of 10 years, maternal PTSS decreased. Multiple regression analysis showed that the interaction between guilt and burn severity predicted the course of PTSS. CONCLUSIONS: Although PTSS substantially decreases through the years, a subset of mothers, in particular mothers who feel guilty about the burn event and whose children have more extensive permanent scarring seem at risk for longer term PTSS.
OBJECTIVE: This prospective longitudinal study examines the course of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in mothers of children with burns between 1 and 11 years after the burn event and the role of burn severity and feelings of guilt on this course. METHOD: Self-reported PTSS of 48 mothers were measured with the Impact of Event Scale. Guilt feelings were assessed during an in-depth interview 2 years after the burn event. Eleven years after the burn event, mothers marked their child's scars at the present time on a drawing. RESULTS: Over a period of 10 years, maternal PTSS decreased. Multiple regression analysis showed that the interaction between guilt and burn severity predicted the course of PTSS. CONCLUSIONS: Although PTSS substantially decreases through the years, a subset of mothers, in particular mothers who feel guilty about the burn event and whose children have more extensive permanent scarring seem at risk for longer term PTSS.
Authors: Anne Bakker; Peter G M van der Heijden; Maarten J M van Son; Rens van de Schoot; Els Vandermeulen; Ann Helsen; Nancy E E Van Loey Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2014-02-01 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Lisa Ljungman; Martin Cernvall; Helena Grönqvist; Brjánn Ljótsson; Gustaf Ljungman; Louise von Essen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-07-24 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Els P M van Meijel; Maj R Gigengack; Eva Verlinden; Alida F W van der Steeg; J Carel Goslings; Frank W Bloemers; Jan S K Luitse; Frits Boer; Martha A Grootenhuis; Ramón J L Lindauer Journal: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev Date: 2020-04