Promoting Biopsychosocial Assessment of Phantom Limb Pain in Veterans With Amputation

Pain management is a focus of rehabilitation for Veterans after amputation, and occupational therapy practitioners play a key role in providing this care as part of an interdisciplinary team. However, the evaluation and treatment of phantom limb pain (PLP) after amputation lack guidance with respect to best practices. There is a need for improved identification of factors that contribute to PLP so that treatment targets can be identified. In this column, we discuss the application of the biopsychosocial model to the clinical management of PLP as part of comprehensive care for Veterans after amputation. We present factors associated with PLP, categorized using the biopsychosocial model, and discuss specific considerations for Veterans. We also provide recommendations for the biopsychosocial evaluation of PLP in occupational therapy practice, and we highlight the value of involving occupational therapists in interdisciplinary health care teams. Furthermore, we recommend continued evaluation and discussion to monitor changes in PLP and its associated factors over time.