Efficacy of a burn-specific cognitive-behavioral group training

• We evaluated a newly developed cognitive-behavioral group training for burn patients.
• After group intervention, general symptom severity and posttraumatic stress decreased in the intervention group but not in the treatment as usual control group.
• Optimism increased in the intervention group but not in the control group.
• In both groups overall quality of life improved gradually over the three assessment points.
• The group intervention had a positive effect on psychological well-being and resources of burn patients.

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed cognitive-behavioral group training, specifically designed for burn patients.MethodIn a multicenter-study data pre- and post treatment and at 6-month follow-up were obtained from participants of the group program (Intervention group, IG; n = 86) and a control group who received treatment as usual (TAU; n = 128). Outcome variables of psychological distress, resources and health-related quality of life of both groups were compared using linear mixed models.ResultsUp to 6 months after group treatment, the IG reported a substantial decline of general symptom severity as well as posttraumatic stress, whereas the TAU group showed no significant change over time. Optimism increased in the IG after group treatment, but not in the TAU group. Regarding overall quality of life both groups showed a gradual improvement over the three assessment points.ConclusionThe newly developed burn-specific cognitive-behavioral group intervention had positive effects on psychological well-being and resources of burn participants. As a consequence, the group intervention has been implemented as inherent part of the regular burn treatment in two rehabilitation centers in Germany.