Background and Objectives: Physiological changes and physical limitations in burn patients are underlying causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and fear of body image. Substance abuse may further negatively affect recovery. This study aimed to determine the relationship between burn complications, fear of body image, and post-traumatic stress in addicted and non-addicted burn patients.

Materials and Methods: This comparative descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 burn patients (60 addicted and 60 non-addicted) admitted to Shahid Rajaei Hospital in Qazvin, Iran, in 2022 (1401 SH). All eligible patients were included using a census method. Data were collected using a demographic checklist, burn outcome checklist, Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) on the first day of admission and 30 days later. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests in SPSS version 26. The significance level was set at p<0.05.

Results: Thirty days after the burn, PTSD scores were highest in the addicted and non-addicted groups with complications and lowest in the non-addicted group without complications (p=0.025). Fear of body image was also highest in the groups with complications and lowest in the non-addicted group without complications (p=0.001).

Conclusion: Burn complications increase PTSD and fear of body image. Substance abuse can contribute to an increase in burn complications, particularly pain. Future studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are recommended.

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