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Abstract
Purpose. To assess how upper limb amputation affects mental health and life satisfaction.
Method. Cross-sectional study comparing the mental health and perceived satisfaction with life among adult acquired major upper limb amputees in Norway with a control group drawn from the Norwegian general population. The scales used were the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) and the Hopkins Symptom Check List 25-item (SCL-25). The groups were compared using multiple linear regression analyses.
Results. The amputees scored significantly lower on life satisfaction than the control group. A tendency to poorer mental health in the amputee group was observed, but there was no clear evidence of such a difference. The amputation effect on life satisfaction seemed to be mediated mainly by changes in occupational status and by the occurrence of short- or long-term complications related to the amputation.
Conclusions. Our findings imply that rehabilitation of upper limb amputees should emphasise facilitating return to work as well as the prevention of short- and long-term complications, and that this will be of importance not only for the amputees' physical function, but for the maintenance of acceptable life satisfaction. Further studies on the effect of upper limb amputation on mental health are recommended.
Acknowledgements
We thank Espen Røysamb, Professor Dr. Psychol. for his advices regarding choice of scales for the assessment of mental health and life satisfaction. We also thank Nina Gunnes, statistician PhD, for her statistical advices.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no declarations of interest. Our work was funded in part by Innlandet Hospital Trust and in part by The Norwegian Extra Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation.