The provision of specialist psychosocial support for people with visible differences: A European survey
Open accessAbstract
A substantial body of research has demonstrated the challenges commonly facing people with visible differences (disfigurements) and explored the potential benefits offered by specialist psychosocial support and intervention for those who are negatively affected. However, little is known about the availability of such support in Europe for people whose appearance is in any way different to 'the norm'. This survey of 116 psychosocial specialists from 15 European countries, working with a range of patient groups, has shown a tendency for specialists to prioritise Cognitive-behavioural-based approaches, amongst a wide range of other approaches and interventional techniques. It indicates variations in the availability of support, and a perceived need for improved access to interventions, additional training, and greater awareness of the psychosocial issues associated with visible differences.
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Minimal specialist psychological provision is available across Europe.
“With minimal specialist psychological provision available (eg, across Europe [9]), the development and testing of specialist self-help interventions are warranted.”
From An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Prototype Mobile Program for Individuals with a Visible Difference: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study (2022) · cites this paper as [9]
The Conclusions (section 5; page not provided) report disparities in availability and a need to increase access to specialist support for people with visible differences. But the Results (section 3.3; page not provided) say more than half of respondents considered access easy in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The paper supports gaps in provision, not the unqualified description of provision across Europe as minimal. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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- Authors
- Harcourt, D., Hamlet, C., Feragen, K. B., Garcia-Lopez, L.-J., Masnari, O., Mendes, J., Nobile, F., Okkerse, J., Pittermann, A., Spillekom-van Koulil, S., Stock, N. M., & Williamson, H.
- Affiliations
- University of the West of England (GB)
- Oslo University Hospital (NO)
- University Children's Hospital Zurich (CH)
- Erasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital (NL)
- Vienna General Hospital (AT)
- Corresponding author
- Harcourt, Diana
- ORCID
- Venue
- Body Image
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-06
- Volume
- 25
- Pages
- 35-39
- ISSN
- 1740-1445 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2787786759
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 6.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Body Image (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- UWE Research Repository (UWE Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Funders
- COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) programme
- EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatologic Treatments and Research
- Keywords
- visible difference, disfigurement, psychosocial support, cognitive-behavioral approach, access to interventions, training needs
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Body Image, Burns, Europe, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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