One of the topics that I wanted to research at the beginning of the year were the psychological effects of these reconstructive surgeries. I had not had any luck finding information in regards to this topic until now. As I have been studying in the previous posts Craniofacial Injuries have a variety of psychological side effects. Below I have summarized my findings.
The psychological aftereffects of a disfiguring congenital abnormality or post-traumatic injury are problematic. Craniofacial reconstruction in children with congenital syndromes typically includes ongoing psychological assessment and counseling to help the parents as well as the child cope with feelings of guilt as well as deal with teasing from others. Many parents blame themselves for their child's condition if it is associated with a genetic disorder. Children who have had a disfiguring injury often develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety. "One study found that 98% of children between the ages of three and 12 who had been disfigured by accidents or dog bites had symptoms of PTSD within five days of the traumatic event. A year later, 44% of the children still had symptoms, and 21% met the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD." Psychiatric symptoms in children are often intensified as the youngsters reach adolescence and become even more preoccupied with their appearance.
Adult patients also have high rates of depression, PTSD, or anxiety disorders following craniofacial reconstruction. Support groups as well as individual psychotherapy appear to be effective in helping people learn to live with disfiguring injuries or the aftermath of cancer surgery. Specific concerns include coping with awkward social situations as well as internal feelings of guilt or anger. Some researchers have reported that men find it harder to adjust to facial disfigurement than women, possibly because males in Western societies are not encouraged to discuss concerns about their appearance.
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