A survey of burn professionals regarding the mental health services available to burn survivors in the United States and United Kingdom

• Surveyed professionals in the UK and US about psychology practices on burn services.
• Considerable variability regarding psychosocial assessment and treatment protocols.
• In UK, routine screening more common; easier access to psychotherapy post-discharge.
• Mental health providers had a modest tendency to favor evidence-based interventions.
• Need international standards for assessing/treating psychosocial burn complications.

This investigation surveyed burn health professionals in the UK and US to investigate the psychosocial issues facing burn survivors and the psychological services available to them through their burns service.MethodsOne hundred and sixty six burn care professionals (132 from the United States and 34 from the United Kingdom) from 76 different hospitals (60 in the US and 16 in the UK) completed an online survey. Mental health practitioners (MHPs) answered questions regarding their psychotherapy practice with burn survivors.ResultsRespondents reported that psychosocial issues are common among burn survivors. Burn teams in the UK were more likely than those in the US to include psychologists, but social workers were more common in the US. Participants reported that routine screening for psychosocial issues was more common in the UK than the US, and indicated it was easier for burn survivors to access mental health care after discharge in the UK. Burn services in both countries routinely referred burn survivors to support organizations such as the Phoenix Society or Changing Faces. The preferred mental health treatment modality in the UK was psychotherapy without medications. Reported psychotropic medications use was more common in the US. MHPs had two primary orientations – eclectic and cognitive behavioral therapy. Among MHPs there was a modest tendency to favor evidence-based interventions.DiscussionThe provision of mental health services varies between these two countries. Creating international standards for assessing and treating psychosocial complications of burns could facilitate the improvement of burn mental health services.