Group Psychotherapy Treatment Manual for Limb Loss

Date of Award

Summer 8-23-2025

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Carrie M. Landin

Second Advisor

Kathryn Barrs

Third Advisor

Dominique Chao

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Limb loss, Amputation, Limb difference

Abstract

At present, there are no evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions designed specifically for people with limb loss (PwLL). There is evidence demonstrating a multitude of challenges related to mental health that can emerge after limb loss, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief, adjustment to disability/medical diagnosis, chronic pain, disturbed sleep, struggles with relationships and sexuality, disruptions to identity and body image, and more. The etiology of limb loss such as congenital versus acquired, traumatic injury versus non- traumatic chronic medical illness, alongside a complex interplay of psychosocial factors such as age, socioeconomic status, prior mental health diagnoses and more, play a role in both the genesis and maintenance of mental health symptoms. Due to an absence of interventions to address these concerns, the goal of this treatment manual is to develop a group psychotherapy curriculum specifically for PwLL. The curriculum is made up of evidenced- based approaches shown to be effective in populations who struggle with similar experiences as PwLL. However, the interventions have not been studied, yet, for limb loss. Thus, this paper will provide the reader with foundational information about limb loss and mental health, a group psychotherapy curriculum and its clinical rationale, structure for a pilot study to measure the intervention’s effectiveness, and pertinent resources. Hopefully, the information and interventions within this manual can be used by clinicians and researchers to promote positive adaptions to limb loss and help PwLL improve quality of life.

Copyright Date

7-1-2025

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Jack Thomas

Provenance

Received from author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

161 pgs

File Size

21.3 MB

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