Stories about life and treatment onset of a patient with Treacher Collins syndrome: case study

Abstract

The Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is a rare anomaly of craniofacial development with variable clinical manifestation. The main goal of this study was to analyze the experience of a 26-year-old woman with TCS who initiated her rehabilitation in adulthood, aiming to deepen the possible impacts on her development. After approval by the Institutional Ethics Review Board (CAAE 00981418.3.0000.5441), the case study was conducted by documental analysis of the multiprofessional patient records and a semi-structured interview recorded in audio, transcribed in full and qualitatively analyzed by the Content Analysis technique of Bardin. Two theme categories were evidenced that indicated the life experience of the participant divided in two periods: (1) “Development up to adulthood”, which included the subcategories: “What’s wrong with me?”; “Relationship with the mother”; “I suffered bullying: challenge of school education” (2) “Being someone with Treacher Collins syndrome”, and subcategories: “There are others like me: knowing the diagnosis”; “Treatment onset: challenges and expectations”; “Psychology and the interdisciplinary team”; “But I am happy today: plans for the future”. Since TCS is a facial malformation, it may involve living with the stigma of not presenting a face within the imposed social standards. The present case presented emotional suffering, worsened because she did not ask for help. Conversely, the diagnosis of the syndrome allowed the process of identification with other affected individuals, the onset of rehabilitation and experience of positive impacts on her quality of life. Psychology participated as a space for hearing and possibility of reflecting about the rehabilitation process.