How depressive levels are related to the adults' experiences of lower-limb amputation: a mixed methods pilot study

The current pilot study aims to explore whether different adults' experiences of lower-limb amputation could be associated with different levels of depression. To achieve these study objectives, a convergent parallel mixed methods design was used in a convenience sample of 42 adult amputees (mean age of 61 years; SD=13.5). All of them had undergone lower-limb amputation after the age of 18 years and were being followed up at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of a General Hospital. A semistructured interview was conducted to explore patients' experiences of amputation, and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was applied to assess depressive levels. In total, 31% of the patients fulfilled the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale criteria for depression. Higher depressive levels (P<0.05) were found in patients who manifested greater self-awareness of impairment, lower identification with the impairment, and a poorer perception of well-being and social support. The results suggest that the increase in depressive levels in amputees may be associated with adaptive dimensions of the emotional experience of impairment, rather than itself being a mere sign of maladjustment or negative coping.