title: An evaluation of the impact of social interaction skills training for facially disfigured people.
abstract: Facially disfigured people can experience significant psychological problems, commonly relating to difficulties in social interaction. The effect of social interaction skills workshops on the psychological well-being of 64 facially disfigured participants is described. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SAD) and an open-ended questionnaire, before a workshop and at 6 weeks and 6 months follow-up. The high levels of anxiety evident prior to the workshop fell significantly 6 weeks post-workshop (HSD = 1.297, P < 0.01) and remained significantly lower at 6 month follow-up (HSD = 1.563, P < 0.01). Similarly, SAD scores fell significantly at 6 weeks (HSD = 1.89, P < 0.05) and again at 6 month follow-up (HSD = 2.26, P < 0.01). 6 weeks post-workshop, participants reported feeling more confident in the company of strangers (HSD = -1.266, P < 0.01) and about meeting new people (HSD = -1.159, P < 0.01). This increase in confidence was maintained at 6 months (HSD = -1.068 and -1.042 respectively, P < 0.01 for both). 61% of those who experienced problems before the workshop reported a positive change in these situations. The potential of these workshops as an addition to surgical intervention is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Community Studies, University of the West of England, London, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rumsey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Partridge
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005145:Face / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D019066:Facies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012938:Social Perception