Mimmie Willebrand, Aili Low, Johan Dyster-Aas, Morten Kildal, Gerhard Andersson, Lisa Ekselius, Bengt Gerdin
DOI: 10.1080/00015550410032941

Pruritusis a major problem after burn injury; however, prevalence andpredictors of prolonged pruritus are not known. The aims were to assessfrequency of pruritus and the role of personality traits and coping inprolonged pruritus. The participants were burn patients injured 1-18years earlier (n =248). Pruritus was assessed with an item fromthe Abbreviated Burn Specific Health Scale, personality was assessedwith the Swedish universities Scales of Personality, and coping withthe Coping with Burns Questionnaire. In all, 60% of the participantshad pruritus at follow-up, however as the time after injury increased,the number of patients with persistent itch decreased. In logisticregression, 39% of the likelihood of having persistent pruritus wasexplained by greater extent of burn, less time after injury, andpsychological features (being less assertive, and using moreinstrumental but less emotional support). In summary, chronicburn-related pruritus is rather common and psychological factors suchas anxiety-related traits and coping are significantly associated withits presence.