For patients with thoracic deformities

Concern about your or your child's appearance is common and completely understandable. Many patients and their families don't become overly concerned once they realize the physical problems, but there is growing recognition of the psychological impact these types of physical abnormalities can have.

Dissatisfaction, feelings of low self-esteem, and a negative body image are sometimes described, and are often expressed as:

Psychological symptoms are alarmingly present at a formative time in a young person's life.

Pathological anxiety, pathological depression, and social phobia are psychological disorders that may result from a negative body image in patients with chest deformities.

If you feel that such concerns need to be addressed more formally and will not be resolved by talking with friends or family, a more independent, specialized psychiatrist may be appropriate. This is when psychiatrists are ideally positioned to help.