View article

Aim.  The aim of this paper is to report a study to establish the extent and type of psychosocial needs of outpatients attending for treatment of a wide range of disfiguring conditions.

Background.  Visible disfigurements can be associated with extensive psychosocial difficulties. The majority of research to date has been carried out with people identified by themselves or others as experiencing difficulties. Little is known about levels of distress in the broader population of patients receiving treatment for a range of disfiguring conditions.

Methods.  A cross‐sectional survey was conducted, with a convenience sample. Participants (n = 458) drawn from 15 outpatient clinics completed standardized measures of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), social anxiety and avoidance (Derriford Appearance Scale short‐form) and quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Scale …