Post-Amputation Psychological Trauma in Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Case Series

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) often leads to critical limb ischemia requiring amputation. While the physical consequences are well documented, the psychological sequelae remain underrecognized. We present a case series of three patients with PAOD who developed significant psychiatric manifestations following limb amputation. Clinical details, psychiatric evaluations, and management strategies are discussed. All three patients exhibited varying degrees of psychological trauma, including major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and body image disturbance. Early psychiatric intervention led to partial to significant improvement. Psychological trauma following amputation in PAOD patients is common and multifaceted. Early identification and integrated care are essential to improve outcomes.