Anxiety and self-consciousness in patients with facial lacerations one week and six months later

We explored the psychological impact of disfigurement resulting from facial lacerations in patients who presented at an accident and emergency department in the UK. Patients participated in relevant sections of the Derriford Appearance Scale and State Trait Anxiety Inventory at one week and six months after injury. In all patients self-consciousness and anxiety scores were higher than in the general population. The extent of the scar, the patient's living arrangements, and the cause of the injury were significantly related to self-consciousness and anxiety. General self-consciousness improved at six months but not social self-consciousness and anxiety. These injuries may have a considerable impact on the lives of the affected people. (C) 2005 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.