Impact of depression, anxiety, inflammatory factors, and stress levels on treatment outcomes in patients with chronic trauma.

Abstract

This editorial discusses a recent article published by Li et al in 2024, which highlights a critical yet underexplored dimension of chronic wound care: The impact of psychological factors such as depression and anxiety on treatment outcomes. With the increasing prevalence of chronic wounds in China, driven by population aging, traffic accidents, and chronic diseases, chronic wounds have emerged as a significant public health concern. They not only pose serious threats to individual health but also impose considerable social and economic burdens on healthcare systems. Against this backdrop, the study by Li et al aimed to explore how psychological distress affects the management and recovery of patients with chronic wounds. In their research, chronic wound patients were meticulously evaluated for depression and anxiety using validated psychological assessment scales and blood biomarkers. The findings reveal a stark reality: Individuals with severe depression and anxiety exhibit markedly lower treatment adherence, slower recovery rates, and diminished post-treatment quality of life. These psychological challenges hinder patients' active engagement with their care plans and may directly impede physiological healing processes. Importantly, the study underscored that factors such as wound size, anxiety, and depression significantly influence therapeutic outcomes in chronic wound patients. This insight calls for a more holistic approach to wound care, where addressing psychological well-being becomes an integral component of treatment protocols. As such, the study highlighted the necessity of early identification and targeted intervention for depression and anxiety in chronic wound patients. By prioritizing psychological support alongside medical treatment, healthcare providers can enhance therapeutic efficacy and improve patients' long-term quality of life. This integrative approach can not only optimize clinical outcomes but also alleviate the broader societal and economic impact of chronic wounds.