Burn Injuries

Pediatric burn injuries are often traumatic and painful experiences for children and their families. Pediatric psychologists can play an important role in the care of pediatric patients with burn injuries, both during the acute inpatient hospitalization and in subsequent outpatient follow-up. During an inpatient hospitalization for burn injuries, pediatric psychologists can provide targeted assessments and supportive counseling to patients and their families, as well as brief interventions that target acute adjustment concerns, including teaching of active coping strategies and behavioral management strategies during painful dressing changes. In the outpatient setting, pediatric psychologists can assist with school and social reintegration after burn injury, as well as address long-term concerns such as persistent itching, adherence to burn care tasks (e.g., pressure garments, scar massage), adjustment to and acceptance of new appearance, and teasing/bullying. This chapter provides a summary of pediatric burn injury treatment, the role of pediatric psychologists in burn consultations, and a review of interventions in the inpatient and outpatient burn care settings.