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Psychological reactions in subjects with limb amputation: a review
Journal Title: PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE 
Author/s: Martina Luchetti, Andrea Giovanni Cutti, Ornella Montebarocci, Gennaro Verni, Nicolino Cesare Franco Rossi 
Year:  2013 Issue: 1 Language: Italian 
Pages:  22 Pg. 49-70 FullText PDF:  329 KB
DOI:  10.3280/PDS2013-001003
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The aim of this paper is to clarify the current state of knowledge on psychological adjustment post-amputation, providing a critical analysis of methodological issues and illustrating some tools specifically ideated to investigate psychosocial problems faced by amputees. Research results show the presence of significant anxiety-depressive symptoms in the short period after the trauma, as well as at a distance of several years. However, some potentially critical phase, such as the period immediately after discharge from rehabilitation centers in which the support of therapy is reduced, remain insufficiently explored. Due to the complex nature of the adjustment process to limb loss, several authors have highlighted the need for further longitudinal studies to investigate the evolution of psychological reactions in different stages of rehabilitation and prosthetic fitting, in short- and long-term postamputation. Consider not only medical-prosthetic factors, but also psychosocial ones is relevant for both research and clinical practice.
Keywords: Limb amputation, adjustment, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Martina Luchetti, Andrea Giovanni Cutti, Ornella Montebarocci, Gennaro Verni, Nicolino Cesare Franco Rossi, Psychological reactions in subjects with limb amputation: a review in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 1/2013, pp. 49-70, DOI:10.3280/PDS2013-001003

   

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