Methodological problems in studies of burn survivors and their psychosocial prognosis.

As the psychological adjustment of burn survivors is a subject of increasing interest, 21 studies on psychosocial adjustment to burns in adults and children are reviewed. These studies are commonly cited as a basis for determining the direction of future research. Eight methodological guidelines are applied to these studies of prognosis. Limitations are identified with the major focus of the paper being to assist in the development of more rigorous methodology in order to promote the optimal rehabilitation for burn survivors.