Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the estimated prevalence and correlates of suicidal
ideation (SI) among individuals 1 year after a first lower extremity amputation (LEA). DESIGN: Cohort survey. SETTING: Four medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: A referred sample of patients
(N=239), primarily men, undergoing their first LEA
because of complications of diabetes mellitus or peripheral arterial disease,
were screened for participation between 2005 and 2008. Of these patients, 136
(57%) met study criteria and 87 (64%) enrolled; 70 (80.5%) of the enrolled
patients had complete data regarding SI at 12-month follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SI, demographic/health information, depressive
symptoms, mobility, independence in activities of daily living (ADL),
satisfaction with mobility and ADL, medical comorbidities, social support,
self-efficacy. RESULTS: At 12 months postamputation, 11 subjects (15.71%)
reported SI; of these, 3 (27.3%) screened negative for depression. Lower
mobility, lower satisfaction with mobility, greater impairment in ADL, lower
satisfaction with ADL, lower self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms were all
correlated with the presence of SI at a univariate level; of these, only
depressive symptoms remained significantly associated with SI in a multivariable
model. CONCLUSIONS: SI was common among those with recent LEA. Several aspects of
an amputee's clinical presentation, such as physical functioning, satisfaction
with functioning, and self-efficacy, were associated with SI, although depression
severity was the best risk marker. A subset of the sample endorsed SI in the
absence of a positive depression screen. Brief screening for depression that
includes assessment of SI is recommended.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS