Evaluation of stigmatization in hemifacial spasm and quality of life before and after botulinum toxin treatment

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a chronic disease that is characterized by involuntary tonic and clonic contractions of the muscles innervated by the ipsilateral facial nerve. Botulinum toxin (BTX) is the most effective medical treatment of this condition. The aim of our study was to evaluate stigma among patients diagnosed with HFS and to search quality of life and depression before and after BTX injection. Seven self-rating items (HFS-7) and seven questions related to stigmatization were administered to HFS patients. Participants also answered SF-36 health outcome measure and Beck depression inventory before and 4 weeks after the routine BTX injection. The severity of HFS was graded based on a five-point scale. Descriptive statistics and paired t test were applied. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05. Fourty HFS patients were prospectively included. Twenty-one (%52.5) were female and nineteen were male (47.5%) with a mean age of 57.1 (SD = 12.13; min–max = 27–78). 60% (n: 24) of patients were feeling themselves different from people without HFS. Beck depression inventory scores improved after BTX injection significantly (p < 0.05). All domains of SF-36 showed positive improvement after BTX injections. The improvement in general health perception, physical functioning, and vitality was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Although more than half of the patients felt themselves different from people without HFS, treatment of HFS with BTX significantly improved mental health and physical health, and depressive symptoms of the patients.