Great Ormond Street Hospital for ChildrenLondon UK Word Count: 5988 (not including Abstract) Experiences of Epidermolysis Bullosa 2 2 AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank the participants and their families, whose contributions made this study possible. Bio-bibliographical notes E. Felicity Williams has recently completed the Professional Doctorate in CLinicalPsychology at the University of East London. Kenneth Gannon is Research Director for the Professional Doctorate in CLinicalPsychology at the University of East London.Kristina Soon is a clinical psychologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.She has a special interest in dermatological conditions. Experiences of Epidermolysis Bullosa 3 3 AbstractObjective: To explore the experiences of young people with Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex (EBS).Method: 11 participants aged 10 -14 years were interviewed. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed.Results: A key theme was 'self as different'. This related to experiences of negative treatment and exclusion from peers; a lack of understanding of others about the condition; and a sense of the self as 'wrong'. Conclusions:Findings indicate the importance of providing appropriate psychological and peer support, as well as wider community education and intervention, as part of the holistic treatment of young people with this chronic, painful and visible skin condition.

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