Psychological impact of amputation

The loss of a limb can have a considerable psychological impact. Many people who've had an amputation report feeling emotions such as grief and bereavement, similar to experiencing the death of a loved one.

Coming to terms with the psychological impact of an amputation is therefore often as important as coping with the physical demands.

Having an amputation can have a considerable psychological impact for three main reasons:

• you have to cope with the loss of sensation from your amputated limb
• you have to cope with the loss of function from your amputated limb
• your sense of body image, and other people's perception of your body image, has changed

Negative thoughts and emotions are common after an amputation. This is particularly true in people who've had an emergency amputation because they don't havetime to mentally prepare for the effects of surgery.

Common negative emotions and thoughts experienced by people after an amputation include:

• depression
• anxiety
• denial (refusing to accept that they need to make changes, such as having physiotherapy , to adapt to life with an amputation)
• grief
• feeling suicidal

People who've had an amputation as a result of trauma (particularly members of the armed forces) also have an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) .

Talk to your care team about your thoughts and feelings, particularly if you're feeling depressed or suicidal. You may need additional treatment, such as antidepressants or counselling , to improve your ability to cope after having an amputation.