PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PORT-WINE STAINS

Objectives: To assess the impact of a facial port wine stain (PWS) on behavioural problems in children and on health related quality of life in adults applying for laser treatment. Design: A survey by questionn aire of patients with PWS not previously treated. Outcome measures: Tw o standard general instruments and a more specific PWS questionnaire w ere used. Adolescents and adults (13-31 years) received a short versio n of the RAND Health Insurance Questionnaire from the Medical Outcome Study (MOS-24). Children's (4-12 years) parents received the Child Beh aviour Checklist (CBCL). A specific PWS questionnaire was sent to both age groups. Analysis: The results of the MOS-24 were compared with th ose of a reference population without chronic illness. Observed behavi our in children was compared with data from a Dutch reference group, f rom children with constipation and from another group of children with a PWS. Results: 41 MOS-24 and 41 CBCL were returned (91% and 95% resp onse rates, respectively). Adolescents and adults reported little effe ct on role and social functioning, but showed low scores for mental he alth, self-perceived health and vitality/health. Children's parents re ported no clinically significant problem behaviour (T-score > 70). Adu lts experienced more negative psycho-social consequences of having a P WS than children (specific PWS questionnaire). Conclusions: Children w ith PWS do not show significant problem behaviour. Adolescents and adu lts reported less vitality/energy than was expected in this age group. Adolescents and adults showed statistically significant negative cons equences of their PWS in social contacts compared to children (P less than or equal to 0.01, Mann-Whitney).