Journal article
LONG-TERM ADJUSTMENT AND ADAPTATION MECHANISMS IN SEVERELY BURNED ADULTS
The journal of nervous and mental disease, Vol.154(5), pp.352-362
05/1972
DOI: 10.1097/00005053-197205000-00004
PMID: 4260337
Abstract
The adjustment problems and coping mechanisms of 20 adults suffering from severe burns were studied from 1 to 5 years after initial hospitalization. A majority of the patients (70 per cent) were found to be adjusting well, while 30 per cent had mild or moderate problems. The adjustment problems that the burn patient faces after discharge take the form of a multifaceted identity crisis. He must adjust to changes in his physical appearance, his bodily strength, his capacity to work, and the responses of others to him. Most patients resolve this identity crisis by using a fairly consistent set of adaptive mechanisms that help them redefine their sense of identity on a nonphysical foundation, using increased family ties, greater emphasis on inner worth, religiosity, etc. Factors influencing adaptation include amount of deformity, degree of immaturity and narcissism, sex of the victim, ability to ventilate, and attitude toward covering scarred areas.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- LONG-TERM ADJUSTMENT AND ADAPTATION MECHANISMS IN SEVERELY BURNED ADULTS
- Creators
- N J C Andreasen - 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, 500 Newton Eoad, Iowa City, IowaA S Norris
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journal of nervous and mental disease, Vol.154(5), pp.352-362
- Publisher
- Williams & Wilkins
- DOI
- 10.1097/00005053-197205000-00004
- PMID
- 4260337
- ISSN
- 0022-3018
- eISSN
- 1539-736X
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/1972
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984003904302771
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