Reintegration Following Amputation: A Biopsychosocial Approach

Abstract

Reintegration back into one's life following limb loss is heavily influenced by the interaction among the individual's mental health, environment, and physical factors (eg, pain and prostheses). While many patients experience posttraumatic growth and successfully reintegrate back into their lives, others have a more difficult adjustment. Interdisciplinary teams can best facilitate reintegration through early screening for barriers to reintegration such as depression, pain, body image, and inaccessible environments, to intervene early after amputation. With these barriers addressed, amputees may be able to return to driving and other valued activities more quickly, resulting in improved reintegration across life domains.

Keywords: Amputation; Biopsychosocial approach; Community reintegration after limb loss; Depression, anxiety, and PTSD associated with limb loss; Driving after limb loss; Limb loss; Social, Psychological, and physical adjustment to limb loss.