Objective: This systematic review aims to investigate Quality of Life (QoL)/Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and psychological adjustment in non-traumatic lower limb amputees (LLA). Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were used for the literature search. Studies were read and analysed using the (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) PRISMA statement procedure. Results: The literature search retrieved 1268 studies, of which 52 were included in the systematic review. Overall, psychological adjustment, especially depression with or without anxiety symptoms, influences the QoL/HRQoL in this clinical population. Other factors influencing QoL/HRQoL include subjective characteristics, physical aspects, the cause and level of the amputation, relational aspects, social support, and the doctor-patient relationship. In addition, the patient’s emotional-motivational status, depression and/or anxiety symptoms, and acceptance play a key role in the subsequent rehabilitation process. Conclusions: In LLA patients, psychological adjustment is a complex and multifaceted process, and QoL/HRQoL may be influenced by various factors. Shedding light on these issues may provide useful suggestions for promoting clinical and rehabilitative interventions that may be tailored and effective in this clinical population.

Conflicting results about alterations of plasma amino acid (AA) levels are reported in subjects with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The current study aimed to provide more homogeneous AA profiles and correlations between AAs and cognitive tests. Venous plasma AAs were measured in 54 fasting patients with AD (37 males, 17 females; 74.63 ± 8.03 yrs; 3.2 ± 1.9 yrs from symptom onset). Seventeen matched subjects without neurodegenerative symptoms (NNDS) served as a control group (C-NNDS). Patients were tested for short-term verbal memory and attention capacity and stratified for nutritional state (Mini Nutritional Assessment, MNA). Compared to C-NNDS, patients exhibited lower plasma levels of aspartic acid and taurine (p < 0.0001) and higher 3-methylhistidine (p < 0.0001), which were independent of patients’ MNA. In comparison to normonourished AD, the patients at risk of and with malnutrition showed a tendency towards lower ratios of Essential AAs/Total AAs, Branched-chain AAs/Total AAs, and Branched-chain AAs/Essential AAs. Serine and histidine were positively correlated with verbal memory and attention capacity deficits, respectively. Total AAs negatively correlated with attention capacity deficits. Stratifying patients with AD for MNA may identify a dual pattern of altered AAs, one due to AD per se and the other linked to nutritional state. Significant correlations were observed between several AAs and cognitive tests.

In Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) patients, psychological and cognitive variables and their association with treatment adherence have been extensively reported in the literature, but few are the investigations in older people. The present study aimed to evaluate the psychological, cognitive, and adherence to treatment profile of older (>65 years) CHF patients, the interrelation between these variables, and identify possible independent predictors of self-reported treatment adherence. CHF inpatients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation were assessed for: anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment, positive and negative affect, and self-reported adherence (adherence antecedents, pharmacological adherence, and non-pharmacological adherence). 100 CHF inpatients (mean age: 74.9 ± 7.1 years) were recruited. 16% of patients showed anxiety and 24.5% depressive symptoms; 4% presented cognitive decline. Cognitive functioning negatively correlated to depression, anxiety, and negative affect (p < 0.01). The adherence antecedents (disease acceptance, adaptation, knowledge, and socio-familiar support) negatively correlated to anxiety (p < 0.05), depression (p < 0.001), and negative affect (p < 0.05), while they positively correlated to positive affect (p < 0.01). Pharmacological adherence negatively correlated to anxiety and negative affect (p < 0.05). Conversely, non-pharmacological adherence and positive affect positively correlated (p < 0.05). Furthermore, depression and anxiety negatively predicted adherence antecedents (β = −0.162, p = 0.037) and pharmacological adherence (β = −0.171, p = 0.036), respectively. Finally, positive affect was found as an independent predictor of non-pharmacological adherence (β = 0.133, p = 0.004). In cardiac rehabilitation, a specific psychological assessment focused on anxiety, depression, and affect can provide useful information to manage CHF older patients’ care related to treatment adherence. In particular, positive affect should be targeted in future interventions to foster patients’ non-pharmacological adherence.

Background: Lower limb amputation (LLA), due to non-traumatic causes such as vascular diseases and diabetes, significantly impacts patients’ physical, psychological, and social well-being. While multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs commonly address physical and functional recovery, psychological and subjective experiences related to limb loss remain less explored. Thus, this preliminary study aimed to investigate the psychological and behavioral adaptation processes in patients undergoing rehabilitation following lower limb amputation. Methods: A preliminary observational study with a mixed-method approach based on quantitative and qualitative data triangulation was conducted. This approach involves integrating multiple data sources and methodologies—in this case, quantitative psychometric measures and qualitative interviews via the prospective of amputees and those who use prostheses—to enhance the validity and depth of the research findings. Results: Fourteen inpatient amputees and fourteen inpatient prosthesis users (years: 66.6 ± 2.5 for amputee and 61.5 ± 1.9 for prosthesis users, male amputees: 85.7%, male prosthesis users: 100%) of a research hospital in the North of Italy were assessed using validated psychometric tools (GAD-7, PHQ-9, PID-5-BF, BIS, ASonA) alongside semi-structured interviews analyzed through the Interpretive Description approach. Key themes highlighted illness acceptance, prosthesis adaptation, body image, medication and behavioral adherence, anxiety, depression, quality of life, denial, optimism, and social support. Overall, anxiety–depressive symptomatology tended to decrease with the prosthesis, and pharmacological and behavioral adherence improved, as did the disease acceptance. Body image was fairly preserved in all patients despite some fears of others’ judgment with respect to the prosthesis. Interestingly, there was poor agreement between quantitative and qualitative data in both the amputee’ and prosthesis users’ groups: while the former returned a partial and neutral picture, a more multifaceted picture emerged from the interviews collected. Conclusions: These findings underline the importance of integrating quantitative psychometric evaluations with qualitative methods to comprehensively understand patients’ adaptive experiences. Such combined insights are essential to inform tailored psychological interventions throughout the rehabilitation journey.

In response to COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, healthcare procedures and modalities have changed considerably. Video calls may supply valid support for health care professionals, contributing to maintaining the communication between hospitalized patients and their families. The present study aimed to observe the experience of a group of respiratory therapists who conducted video calls between patients and their families in a COVID-19 unit. Semistructured interviews (20-30 minutes duration) with the respiratory therapists who conducted the video calls in a COVID-19 unit in the North of Italy were performed. Participants joined the study voluntarily and, after receiving the informed consent, the interviews were audio-recorded. To better understand healthcare professionals' experience, the Interpretive Description methodology was adopted. Seven respiratory therapists (three males, four females; mean age 45.1 ± 14.4) were recruited. Sixteen codes emerged from the analysis, constituting five primary themes: Contact, Impact, Challenges, Centering, and Future. The findings shed light on the usability of video calls during this emergency period and their potential for future implementation. Specifically, this type of call may bridge the distances in such periods of care and help professionals to emotionally support patients and caregivers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).