The Practical Utility of Psychometric Scales for the Assessment of the Impact of Posttraumatic Scars on Mental Health

The study examines the psychosocial impact of post-traumatic and surgical scars on mental health using psychometric scales, involving 293 participants. It finds significant differences in the impact of post-traumatic versus surgical scars, with post-traumatic scars more often affecting facial expressions and body symmetry, leading to increased internalization and psychological issues such as anxiety and depression. Women with post-traumatic scars showed higher depression and scar perception scores than men. Social support was found to inversely relate to scar internalization, with factors like hopelessness depression and scar adjustment time affecting internalization. The study suggests that an algorithm combining physical and psychosocial assessments could aid in evaluating the impact of scars, emphasizing the importance of early evaluation and support to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the internalization of scars.