Evaluation on the psychosocial status of orthognathic surgery patients

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the psychosocial status of orthognathic surgery patients through the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Symptom Checklist 90-Revision (SCL-90-R). Study design: A total of 34 patients were enrolled in the study. They were assessed with the MMPI and the SCL-90-R before surgery and followed-up for 6 months after the operation with the MMPI. Comparisons between the personality characteristics of preoperative and postoperative patients and a total of 30 dental students with class I occlusion were made with the t test. Results: The majority of patients showed no abnormal findings in the MMPI psychologic status. Significant differences in personality characteristics were noticed after orthognathic surgery. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that surgical treatment of dentofacial deformities may induce psychologic changes, such as depression, and that the improvement in facial deformities and enhanced sense of esthetic satisfaction may have a positive influence on psychosocial aspects.