Program Evaluation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Burn Survivors.

This article evaluates a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program delivered by a licensed clinical social worker to burn survivors at a U.S. burn center, focusing on its impact on depressive symptoms measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The program offers timely access to psychotherapy, with patients typically seen within two business days of referral, addressing a gap in mental health services for burn patients. Results from 146 patients showed a significant overall reduction in depression severity post-therapy, with 50.7% experiencing meaningful improvement in PHQ-9 depression categories, while 13.7% worsened and 35.6% showed no change; females demonstrated a greater average improvement than males. The study highlights the potential benefit of integrating CBT into standard burn care but notes limitations including lack of a control group and variability in patient response, suggesting further research is needed to identify which patients benefit most.