Abstract
Purpose of Review: The aim of this review was to identify the relevant literature characterizing the psychosocial impact of facial paralysis from societal and patient perspectives. Recent Findings: Facial paralysis results in a measurable attentional distraction for casual observers and significantly penalizes social perceptions with patients appearing less attractive, having a more negative affect, and lower quality of life compared to individuals without facial paralysis. Furthermore, facial paralysis causes patients to have lower self-esteem, higher rates of depression, increased anxiety, and reduced quality of life, especially in female patients. Facial paralysis impairs facial expression recognition for both observers and patients resulting in a facial feedback mechanism that negatively affecting patients’ emotions. Summary: Patients with facial paralysis suffer from impaired social interactions, disruption of self-concept, psychological distress, and decreased overall quality of life. Additional studies are required to better understand ability of patients to cope and the psychosocial benefit of treatment strategies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 151-160 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2018 |
Keywords
- Facial paralysis
- Psychological distress
- Psychosocial heath
- Quality of life
- Self-concept
- Social perceptions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Surgery
- Immunology and Allergy
- Otorhinolaryngology