What type of psychological impact do burn injuries have on veterans?

Any chronic health condition has a psychological impact on people causing feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression. However, burn victims are particularly susceptible to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD results in high levels of hyperarousal and fear. In fact, some studies show that the rate of PTSD among burn victims can be as high as 35 percent at 2 to 4 months after the initial injury.

Post traumatic stress disorder is not well understood by most psychologists and military experts. Ways of preventing or treating PTSD are virtually unknown. Still burn centers believe it’s important for families to surround the burn victim and live in military housing. Also, centers believe that burn victims need to be housed in one central location to give each other moral and social support.