20. What is the relationship between wound healing and mental health?

It is important to assess the consequences of a scar on the psychological experience of the patient. Minimising this impact can be tempting, especially in cases involving post-cancer surgery or scarring after a road-traffic accident. The vital nature of the surgery having caused the scar may overshadow the possibly unsightly appearance of the scar, making any request from the patient appear unjustified.

Quality of life is therefore directly dependent on the condition of the skin as perceived by the patient and his or her family. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is the most commonly used score to assess the impact of the skin problem on quality of life and can be applied to scars [12]. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was developed specifically for scar assessment, and its main advantage is that it takes into account both the perception of the patient and that of the clinician.

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