Effect of Short-term Psychiatric Intervention in Amputees

A total of 40 patients with limb amputations were included in the present study aimed at evaluating the psychological status of amputees. All patients filled a specially designed proforma and the following psychological questionnaires: General Health Questionnaire, Carroll Rating Scale for Depression, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test and Disability Assessment Questionnaire. Analysis of the results showed that 29 (72.5%) of the amputees had psychiatric disorders and this number had reduced to 20 (50%) after therapy. The difference was statistically significant. Psychiatric treatment also resulted in a statistically significant reduction in level of depression as measured by Carroll Rating scale for Depression. The amputees had the highest score on vocational subscale of Dysfunction Analysis Questionnaire. Short term psychiatric treatment was found to be very useful in treating psychiatric morbidity and depression in amputees.