title: Evaluation of a self-help leaflet in treatment of social difficulties following facial disfigurement.
abstract: Psychological difficulty, particularly in social situations, is widely reported by disfigured people, but many receive no formal psychological treatment. This study randomly allocated 106 facially disfigured people either to receive a self-help leaflet offering cognitive-behavioural guidance or not. Participants were assessed pre-treatment and at 3 month follow-up. The untreated group then received the leaflet. Participants in the leaflet group fared better than controls on 3 of the 9 scales employed (Social Leisure [SAQ] (t=2.31, p=0.012), HADS anxiety (t=2.22, p=0.015), HADS depression (t=1.83, p=0.036). There is support for a cognitive-behavioural approach and the usefulness of self-help instructions in addressing the social difficulties of facially disfigured people. The approach merits further development and investigation.
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Studies, University of Leeds, 22 Hyde Terrace, Leeds, UK. r.j.newell@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods