International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-9096
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2329-9096
+44 1300 500008
Inoka Eranganie Weerasinghe1, P. Fonseka2, S D Dharmaratne3, J A M S Jayatilake4
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Int J Phys Med Rehabil
Introduction: Lower limb disability incurs an immense psychological impact on people with lower limb disability producing psychological distress. Psychological distress occurs with the existence of long term disabled conditions. As distress can amplify disability associated with psychiatric illnesses, it is an area which needs to be further investigated. Objective: This study was conducted in the aim of assessing psychological distress among those with lower limb disability and to compare with controls without disability. Method: A community based comparative study was carried out in an urban setting (Kandy Municipal Council area) in Central Sri Lanka. Persons with lower limb disability only (cases, n=61) and a comparative group without disability (comparatives, n=61) in the age group of 18 to 59 years participated in the study. Cases and comparatives were sex and age matched. Comparatives were selected from the same dwelling or from the neighbourhood. Psychological distress was measured using the GHQ-30 (Sinhala). Lower limb disability was measured using a clinical examination and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants and ethical approval was granted by the Ethical Review committee of University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Results: The median score of GHQ-30 was 11 among cases and zero among comparatives. Application of Mann-Whitney U test showed a significant difference in GHQ-30 scores between cases and comparatives (p<0.0001). Higher psychological distress (GHQ score: â?¥ 6) was reported among a higher proportion (45.9%, n=28) of cases compared to comparatives (8.2%, n=5). Psychological distress was statistically significantly higher among those with lower limb disability compared to persons without disability (p< 0.0001). For GHQ 30 and WHODAS II scores, the correlation coefficient (Spearmanâ??s rho) was 0.8 which was a statistically significant association (p<0.0001). Conclusions and recommendations: Therefore psychological distress among persons with lower limb disability needs to be addressed in Sri Lanka by way of varied methods including mental health counseling, special programmes as well as strengthening the preventive health care provision.