Affective distress and amputation-related pain among older men with long-term, traumatic limb amputations

Psychological distress and postamputation pain were investigated in a sample of 582 males with long-term limb amputations (mean time since amputation 639.3 months, standard deviation 166.1; range 240-784 months). Prevalence of significant depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]-D score >= 8) was 32.0%, and 34.0% of respondents met the screening criterion for clinical anxiety (HADS-A score >= 8). Nearly one quarter (24.6%) of respondents reported significant post-traumatic psychological stress symptoms (Impact of Event Scale scores >= 35). In total, 87.8% experienced either phantom or residual limb pain. Affective distress scores differed according to the respondents' type of pain experience. Respondents who experienced residual limb pain reported significantly higher affective distress scores than those with no phantom or residual limb pain. Many older individuals with long-term traumatic limb amputations could benefit from interventions to ameliorate affective distress and appropriate residual limb pain treatment.