CBM CBM Psychological & Psychosocial Support 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which psychiatric condition is most commonly diagnosed in burn survivors during acute hospitalization?
- Acute stress disorder (ASD) (Correct answer)
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
Correct answer: Acute stress disorder (ASD)
Acute stress disorder, characterized by dissociation, intrusive symptoms, and avoidance within the first 30 days, is the most prevalent psychiatric condition in the acute burn inpatient setting.
Question 2: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in burn survivors is most strongly predicted by which factor?
- Perceived threat to life and pre-existing anxiety disorder (Correct answer)
- Burn size (TBSA percentage)
- Length of ICU stay
- Number of surgical procedures
Correct answer: Perceived threat to life and pre-existing anxiety disorder
The subjective perception of life threat and pre-existing mental health vulnerability are stronger predictors of PTSD than objective injury severity metrics like TBSA.
Question 3: The 'face' validity of body image disturbance in burn survivors refers to distress arising primarily from which source?
- Visible scarring and disfigurement that alters social identity and self-perception (Correct answer)
- Phantom limb sensations after amputation
- Changes in body weight during hospitalization
- Altered proprioception from skin grafts
Correct answer: Visible scarring and disfigurement that alters social identity and self-perception
Burns to visible areas—especially the face and hands—profoundly alter body image because appearance changes are conspicuous to the patient and others, disrupting social identity.
Question 4: Which validated screening tool is commonly used to assess PTSD symptoms in adult burn survivors?
- PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) (Correct answer)
- Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
- Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Correct answer: PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
The PCL-5 is a validated 20-item self-report measure aligned with DSM-5 PTSD criteria and is widely used in burn research and clinical practice.
Question 5: Itching (pruritus) in burn scars significantly affects psychological outcomes primarily through which mechanism?
- Chronic, unrelenting itch disrupts sleep, increases anxiety, and reduces quality of life (Correct answer)
- Pruritus directly causes depression through cytokine release
- It prevents patients from wearing compression garments
- Itch is a sign of infection that increases patient fear
Correct answer: Chronic, unrelenting itch disrupts sleep, increases anxiety, and reduces quality of life
Scar pruritus is present in up to 87% of burn survivors and its chronic, disruptive nature leads to sleep deprivation, emotional distress, and reduced adherence to rehabilitation.
Question 6: Which therapeutic approach has the strongest evidence for treating depression and PTSD in burn survivors?
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) (Correct answer)
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy
- Hypnotherapy alone
- Pharmacotherapy with antipsychotics
Correct answer: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT, including prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy, has the most robust evidence base for PTSD and depression following traumatic injury.
CBM CBM Psychological & Psychosocial Support 1
Which psychiatric condition is most commonly diagnosed in burn survivors during acute hospitalization?