The actual state and future of psychological research correlated with cleft lip and/or palate

Nowadays, as the cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) treatment approach is progressing rapidly, non-surgical treatment parts draw more and more extra attention. The psychosocial condition of patients with CLP is becoming an important issue in eyes of medical team, patients themselves, and patients' family members. A higher goal of treatment for CLP is to improve quality of life of patients and their family members, by progressing each step of treatment approach continuously according to assessment of patients and parents' psychosocial outcomes. However, study on this issue is rare and inadequate, especially in our country. There is no mature assessment tool. The mechanism of forming a certain psychosocial condition and the patients' long term psychological changing patent are not clear. This review examined the published scientific research on the psychosocial condition of patients with CLP, hoping to summarize the history and actuality of research, and to provide some suggestions and assumptions on this field.