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Anxiety and depression among adult patients with facial injury in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital


A Nwashindi
EM Dim
BD Saheeb

Abstract

Background: Trauma to the face often causes varying degrees of cosmetic blemish for the patients. This can affect the psychological and social constitutions of such patients.
Aim: The study investigated the pattern of post trauma anxiety and depression disturbance among patients in the maxillofacial unit of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Methods: A 12-month prospective study of post trauma psychological disorders among patients who had accidental facial trauma is presented. The study was conducted on 121 patients (males and females) attending the outpatient clinic. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a self-assessment questionnaire was used for the study.
Result: A total of 121 patients were studied. There were 75 males and 46 females, giving a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. The age range varied between 18 and 77 years and the mean age was 38.36+14.86 years. Eighty- five (70%) of the patients showed no features of depression. Twenty-four (20%) had probable depression. Eighty-six (71%) patients scored 7 points or less on the anxiety subscale of the HADS, denoting absence of anxiety, while 25 (21%) scored more than 11 points which connotes probable anxiety. More females had probable anxiety and depression profiles than males, and this relationship was statistically significant (p = 0.003). Probable depression and anxiety were higher among the singles and the employed, showing that depression and anxiety were significantly influenced by employment status (P = 0.001).
Conclusion: Facial trauma produces psychological complaints with female gender, marital status, and employment being the risk factors.

Key words: Face, trauma, depression, anxiety, disturbance, HADS

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eISSN: 2315-5019
print ISSN: 2277-0941