Psychiatric morbidity in patients undergoing heart, heart and lung, or lung transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of psychiatric disorder in people undergoing heart and/or lung transplantation; to identify the associations of psychiatric disorder in this group.


METHODS
Preoperative assessments were carried out on an 18-month sample of consecutive admissions to a regional unit for heart and lung transplantation in the UK. Assessment included psychiatric morbidity, sexual dysfunction, quality of life, and demographic and clinical characteristics.


RESULTS
Seventy-six of 79 eligible subjects took part in the assessment. Thirty (39%) were suffering from a psychiatric disorder, the most common being major depressive disorder. Forty-four (58%) reported sexual dysfunction. Clinically significant psychiatric morbidity was associated with a history of treatment for mental disorder, unemployment, and length of physical illness. Patients with psychiatric disorder reported poorer quality of life on the SF-36, with lower scores on subscales for general health perception, social functioning, and energy/vitality.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a substantial rate of psychiatric disorder in people undergoing heart and/or lung transplantation. Risk is higher in people with a history of psychiatric vulnerability and current illness-related factors. Preoperative psychiatric assessment and intervention in some patients may be a valuable part of their clinical care.
School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Withington Hospital, University of Manchester, Nell Lane, West Didsbury, M20 8LR, Manchester, UK.
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Trumper
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Appleby
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D016041:Heart-Lung Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D014180:Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*