Effects on quality of life and psychosocial wellbeing in Chinese patients with keloids

Abstract

Keloids are defined as raised scar tissue that grows excessively and invasively beyond the original wound borders during abnormal, fibroproliferative wound healing. The effects of these lesions on quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial wellbeing have not been assessed in keloid-endemic environments such as China. The purpose of our study was to investigate the QoL and mental health status of patients with keloids in China. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) were used to explore the effects of keloids on patients' QoL and psychosocial wellbeing. The main scoring elements of the DLQI focused on psychological feelings, QoL, and social activities. In addition, the results of the SCL-90 revealed that scores pertaining to interpersonal relationship sensitivity, depression, and anxiety were higher in the visible scar group than in either the invisible scar group or the normal group (P < 0.05). The depression and anxiety scores in the invisible scar group were higher than those in the normal group (P < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in other indices between the invisible scar group and the normal group (P < 0.05). The mental health of female patients was affected to a greater extent than in male patients (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that psychological and clinical interventions would be beneficial for patients with keloids to improve their QoL.

Keywords: Keloids; dermatology life quality index; psychosocial wellbeing; symptom checklist 90.

Figure 1

Clinical features of keloids.