The practical utility of psychometric scales for the assessment of the impact of posttraumatic scars on mental health

Abstract

Background: Scars are a natural consequence of the healing process, but with an impact on the psychological and social level for the individual, which can even lead to withdrawal and social stigmatization. We aimed to analyze the psychosocial impact determined by post-traumatic scars, using psychometric scales, to assess the effectiveness of the Mekereș’ Psychosocial Internalization Scale (MPIS), and to identify relevant predictors of traumatic and surgical scar internalization. Methods: Our cohort included 293 participants, 149 women and 144 men, aged 18–64 years who were screened for scar characteristics and completed a set of psychological scales. We compared the results obtained in two subgroups: 153 subjects with posttraumatic scars and 140 with surgical scars. Results: Relevant predictors for posttraumatic scar internalization (R2 = 0.721) are adaptation time, age of the occurrence and subjective appraisal, while for the depression, and hopelessness relevant predictors are the subjective appraisal of the scars and the posttraumatic quality of life. Conclusion: The psychological and social reporting of the aftermath of trauma, that has been followed by scar-ring, is an indicator of how a person will react and could indicate the susceptibility to psycho-pathology.