In recent years, considerable professional attention has centered on the behavioral aspects of various childhood illnesses and injuries. Indeed, child health psychology has grown exponentially over the past decade. One index of this growth is found in the number of texts that have recently appeared in the area (Gross & Drabman, 1990; Karoly, 1988; Krasnegor, Arasteh, & Cataldo, 1986; Levine, Carey, Crocker, & Gross, 1982; Routh, 1988; Russo & Varni, 1982; Tuma, 1982; Varni, 1983). In general, these texts provide summaries of the psychological literature across a variety of established (e.g., oncology) and emerging (psychoneuroimmunology) areas of child health. Until recently, many books on the psychological aspects of pediatric health provided no or minimal information about the psychosocial plight of child burn victims. In some instances, pediatric burns might be men tioned parenthetically as another example of a population for which behavioral treatment procedures (e. g., pain management) may be of value. In part, the relative inattention devoted to this population may be related to the perception that the literature in this area is sketchy and charac terized by significant methodological and substantive shortcomings. In many instances, this perception is largely justified. However, it is also the case that the pediatric burn literature has evolved considerably over the past decade and that the incidence of, and morbidity associated, with severe burn injuries mandates immediate and increased attention by mental health professionals.

Klappentext

This long-needed reference surveys current literature on the behavioral aspects of pediatric burns, focusing on mental health assessment, prevention, consultation, treatment, and follow-up care with burn-injured children, adolescents, and their families. The volume provides a general introduction to the topic of pediatric burns-including epidemiological, medical, and surgical aspects-considers the acute reaction and long-term psychosocial sequelae associated with severe burn injury, examines the applied considerations confronted in clinical work, and discusses future research.

Inhalt

1. Overview.- 2. Medical Management.- 3. Acute Reactions.- 4. Long-Term Psychosocial Sequelae.- 5. Inpatient Consultation and Liaison.- 6. Pain Management.- 7. Body Images and Pediatric Burn Injury.- 8. Family Considerations and Interventions.- 9. School Reintegration.- 10. Prevention.- 11. Future Directions.