21 Jul 2025 • Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) face a heavy mental health burden after lower limb amputation, especially major ones.

Key Findings:

• In a study of 48,568, major amputees had higher 6‑month rates of major depressive disorder (MDD: 6.3% vs 4.6%) and antidepressant use (26.8% vs 15.8%).
• At 1 year, MDD rose to 7.7% vs 6.4%, antidepressant use to 28.6% vs 18.5%, and mortality to 20.7% vs 12%, with worst outcomes in those progressing from minor to major amputation.

Findings call for early psychiatric screening in major amputees.

Source: Science Direct | Read Full Story