Psychological Impact of Facial Trauma

Abstract

Examination of the mental state of patients suffering from facial trauma is rarely ever recorded, let alone screening them for posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSDs) or generalized anxiety disorder. Providing early support to the patient in light of such psychological conditions can improve the overall quality of life. The aim of this study was to perform a literature review to assess the relation of mental state disorders to facial trauma in terms of their prevalence, assess screening methodology, and also to evaluate the prognosis of individuals subjected to psychological intervention/screening at an early stage of clinical examination. Research databases such as ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline were searched using the keywords “psychological trauma,” “facial trauma,” and “PTSD.” Only meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and original research articles in the English language were included in the study. Correspondence to journal editors and clinician opinions were excluded from the study. Out of a total of 459 results, only 8 articles satisfied the inclusion criteria of the study. The literature review showed that patients suffering from orofacial trauma had significantly increased levels of mental state disorders such as PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, more so in victims of assault. The results of this literature review clearly point toward an increased prevalence of mental state disorders in patients suffering from facial trauma, which warrants for early intervention in this regard to improve the quality of life of these patients.