Psychological Complications of Maxillofacial Trauma: Preliminary Findings From a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital

Purpose

This study sought to determine 1) the prevalence of psychological distress in a series of subjects who sustained maxillofacial injuries and 2) temporal changes in psychological functioning over 12 weeks compared with baseline values.

Patients and Methods

This was a prospective, repeated-measures design study of consecutively recruited subjects at a Nigerian university teaching hospital. A total of 51 subjects with facial injuries had repeated follow-up assessments (10 days, 6 to 8 weeks, and 10 to 12 weeks) after the trauma, using standard instruments.

Results

The General Health Questionnaire identified a high prevalence of psychological morbidity in the subjects (90%), with 41.2% and 11.8% scoring above threshold values on the hospital anxiety and depression scales, respectively. Five subjects satisfied the criteria on the Trauma Screening Questionnaire for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder during the follow-up period. Psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire caseness) remained at high levels during the 2 follow-up assessments.

Conclusions

The management of facial injuries should integrate a multidisciplinary approach that addresses the psychological needs of the patients in both the short term and the long term.