Evaluation of a self-help leaflet in treatment of social difficulties following facial disfigurement

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.