The association between depressive mood and pain amongst individuals with limb amputations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pain and depressive mood amongst persons with limb amputations, and to examine the relationship between the etiology (work-related trauma or other types) and depressive mood.

Mailed questionnaires were used to collect personal information from 69 limb amputees living in the community. The severity of limb amputation-related pain was rated using the Chronic Pain Grade scale. Eighteen (26.1%) of the participants referred their pain as Grade 0 (no pain) and 25 (36.2%) referred as Grade I (mild pain). Depressive mood was classified using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale.

Eighteen (26.1%) of the participants were classified as having mild depression, 16 (23.2%) as having moderate depression, and 7 (10.1%) as having severe depressive mood. A significant proportion of participants with moderate or severe depression were amputees with work-related etiology for their loss of limbs. In addition, amputees with more severe depressive mood tended to experience a higher level of amputation-related pain than amputees with less severe depressive mood.

The results of this study revealed the validity of optional approaches such as prescription of antidepressants or psychological counseling to improve mental health of individuals with limb amputations.