The impact of emotion-focused therapy interventions on wound care anxiety in a pediatric patient with severe burns: a case report
Pediatric burn injuries result in observable psychological distress, including heightened anxiety, pain response, and behavioral challenges, which can impede recovery. This case study explores the application of Emotion-Focused Therapy as a nonpharmacologic intervention to reduce wound care anxiety....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-11-01
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| Series: | Burns Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468912225000306 |
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| author | Cameron Miller Isaac Edwards Monica Osterbauer Sydney Crane Jennifer Kesey John Griswold |
| author_facet | Cameron Miller Isaac Edwards Monica Osterbauer Sydney Crane Jennifer Kesey John Griswold |
| author_sort | Cameron Miller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pediatric burn injuries result in observable psychological distress, including heightened anxiety, pain response, and behavioral challenges, which can impede recovery. This case study explores the application of Emotion-Focused Therapy as a nonpharmacologic intervention to reduce wound care anxiety. Our case involved a 7-year-old female recovering from 54 % total body surface area third-degree burns sustained in a car accident. The patient exhibited severe anticipatory anxiety, panic attacks, and avoidance behaviors during dressing changes, with frequent sedation that prolonged the recovery process. An integrated behavioral health provider, specifically a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist used Emotion-Focused Therapy interventions targeting emotional awareness and regulation. Techniques such as deep breathing, guided imagery, music therapy, and patient empowerment through active participation in wound care were employed to address the patient’s emotional distress. Emotion-Focused Therapy interventions helped transform the patient’s experience and led to improved psychological outcomes including notably reduced anxiety, decreased dependency on sedative medications, improved cooperation during wound care, and subjectively faster emotional stabilization. Behavioral changes were evident as the patient demonstrated increased emotional regulation, self-efficacy, and active involvement in her care, as noted by nursing staff and family members. This case highlights the critical role of integrating psychological interventions, such as Emotion-Focused Therapy, into pediatric burn treatment to address the emotional and physical challenges of recovery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-892b5d48e471470aa6396d653d4b6f1a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2468-9122 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Burns Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-892b5d48e471470aa6396d653d4b6f1a2025-08-20T03:39:22ZengElsevierBurns Open2468-91222025-11-011210042210.1016/j.burnso.2025.100422The impact of emotion-focused therapy interventions on wound care anxiety in a pediatric patient with severe burns: a case reportCameron Miller0Isaac Edwards1Monica Osterbauer2Sydney Crane3Jennifer Kesey4John Griswold5School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA; Corresponding author at: School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, STOP 6207, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USADepartment of Community, Family and Addiction Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USADepartment of Community, Family and Addiction Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USAClinical Research Institute, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USADepartment of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USAPediatric burn injuries result in observable psychological distress, including heightened anxiety, pain response, and behavioral challenges, which can impede recovery. This case study explores the application of Emotion-Focused Therapy as a nonpharmacologic intervention to reduce wound care anxiety. Our case involved a 7-year-old female recovering from 54 % total body surface area third-degree burns sustained in a car accident. The patient exhibited severe anticipatory anxiety, panic attacks, and avoidance behaviors during dressing changes, with frequent sedation that prolonged the recovery process. An integrated behavioral health provider, specifically a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist used Emotion-Focused Therapy interventions targeting emotional awareness and regulation. Techniques such as deep breathing, guided imagery, music therapy, and patient empowerment through active participation in wound care were employed to address the patient’s emotional distress. Emotion-Focused Therapy interventions helped transform the patient’s experience and led to improved psychological outcomes including notably reduced anxiety, decreased dependency on sedative medications, improved cooperation during wound care, and subjectively faster emotional stabilization. Behavioral changes were evident as the patient demonstrated increased emotional regulation, self-efficacy, and active involvement in her care, as noted by nursing staff and family members. This case highlights the critical role of integrating psychological interventions, such as Emotion-Focused Therapy, into pediatric burn treatment to address the emotional and physical challenges of recovery.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468912225000306Pediatric burn patientsWound careEmotion-focused therapy |
| spellingShingle | Cameron Miller Isaac Edwards Monica Osterbauer Sydney Crane Jennifer Kesey John Griswold The impact of emotion-focused therapy interventions on wound care anxiety in a pediatric patient with severe burns: a case report Burns Open Pediatric burn patients Wound care Emotion-focused therapy |
| title | The impact of emotion-focused therapy interventions on wound care anxiety in a pediatric patient with severe burns: a case report |
| title_full | The impact of emotion-focused therapy interventions on wound care anxiety in a pediatric patient with severe burns: a case report |
| title_fullStr | The impact of emotion-focused therapy interventions on wound care anxiety in a pediatric patient with severe burns: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of emotion-focused therapy interventions on wound care anxiety in a pediatric patient with severe burns: a case report |
| title_short | The impact of emotion-focused therapy interventions on wound care anxiety in a pediatric patient with severe burns: a case report |
| title_sort | impact of emotion focused therapy interventions on wound care anxiety in a pediatric patient with severe burns a case report |
| topic | Pediatric burn patients Wound care Emotion-focused therapy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468912225000306 |
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