Goal pursuit, goal adjustment, and affective well-being following lower limb amputation

Rehabilitation of lower limb amputees and the fitting of their prosthesis depend highly on the psychological adjustment process and motivational state of the patient. The loss of a limb is extremely challenging and can cause various physical and psychological problems. Depression, anxiety, decreased well-being and quality of life, body image dissatisfaction and changes in self-concept and identity are frequent after lower limb amputation. In the interest of adjustment patients have to cope with the emerging changes and difficulties in their lifes as well as the problems in psychological functioning. It is important for them to accept the alterations in their body and identity, and integrate them in a new self-concept in which process motivation is a fundamental issue. The aim of this article is to review the literature on psychological consequences of lower limb amputation, and to propose an integrative way of rehabilitation for lower limb amputees. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(39), 1563–1568.

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A prospective study of the importance of life goal characteristics and goal adjustment capacities in longer term psychosocial adjustment to lower limb amputation

Clinical Rehabilitation ◽

10.1177/0269215513497736 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 196-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Laura Coffey ◽

Pamela Gallagher ◽

Deirdre Desmond

Keyword(s):

Prospective Study ◽

Psychosocial Adjustment ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Lower Limb Amputation ◽

Limb Amputation ◽

Life Goal ◽

Goal Adjustment ◽

A Prospective Study ◽

Goal Characteristics

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An exploratory phenomenological study exploring the experiences of people with systemic disease who have undergone lower limb amputation and its impact on their psychological well-being

Prosthetics and Orthotics International ◽

10.1177/0309364614556838 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 44-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Elaine D Washington ◽

Anita E Williams

Keyword(s):

Vascular Disease ◽

Peripheral Vascular Disease ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Chronic Condition ◽

Well Being ◽

Lower Limb Amputation ◽

Limb Amputation ◽

Peripheral Vascular ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Over Time

Background: Amputation is a life-changing event accompanied by challenges for the affected person with time-dependent depression often used to quantify its level of impact on their psychological well-being. There are varied factors that contribute to this and its persistence. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences over time of people with diabetes and/or peripheral vascular disease following an amputation and the impact on their psychological well-being. Objectives: To develop an understanding of the experience of living with an amputation and a chronic condition in order to help clinicians identify those in need of counselling support. Study design: A qualitative study utilising an iterative approach in line with the philosophy of interpretive phenomenology. Methods: Six participants who had experienced a lower limb amputation associated with peripheral vascular disease/diabetes were interviewed on two occasions (baseline and 4 months). An interpretative phenomenological approach was utilised for both data collection and analysis. Results: For these participants, amputation was part of the chronology of their chronic disease. It was the individual’s variable experience of health which impacted their psychological well-being rather than the length of time since amputation. Conclusions: The multivariable experience of amputation means that individually tailored counselling/psychological support is recommended. Clinical relevance An understanding of how the experience of living with an amputation and a chronic condition may change over time will help clinicians to identify the ongoing need for counselling support.

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