title: Mental health and satisfaction with life among upper limb amputees: a Norwegian population-based survey comparing adult acquired major upper limb amputees with a control group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess how upper limb amputation affects mental health and life satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study comparing the mental health and perceived satisfaction with life among adult acquired major upper limb amputees in Norway with a control group drawn from the Norwegian general population. The scales used were the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) and the Hopkins Symptom Check List 25-item (SCL-25). The groups were compared using multiple linear regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amputees scored significantly lower on life satisfaction than the control group. A tendency to poorer mental health in the amputee group was observed, but there was no clear evidence of such a difference. The amputation effect on life satisfaction seemed to be mediated mainly by changes in occupational status and by the occurrence of short- or long-term complications related to the amputation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings imply that rehabilitation of upper limb amputees should emphasise facilitating return to work as well as the prevention of short- and long-term complications, and that this will be of importance not only for the amputees' physical function, but for the maintenance of acceptable life satisfaction. Further studies on the effect of upper limb amputation on mental health are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Innlandet Hospital Trust, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Ottestad, Jørgen Jensens vei, 2312, Norway. kristin.ostlie@sykehuset-innlandet.no
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Østlie
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magnus
authors.forename: Ola H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Skjeldal
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garfelt
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tambs
mesh_terms: D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D034941:Upper Extremity