The psychological consequences of wounds - A vicious circle that should not be overlooked

Psychological stress, pain, negative emotions, malodour, high exudate levels, social isolation, sleep and mobility problems are all possible consequences of a wound. The subsequent psychological effects of a wound can have a severe impact on an individual's quality of life. The evidence suggests that these psychological factors not only influence the occurrence of further wounds, but they also exacerbate the severity of a wound and affect its ability to heal, resulting in the individual having to endure further psychological problems as a consequence - a vicious circle that clinicians must be aware of when treating patients with wounds.