title: Relationship between psychiatric disorders and physical status during the course of a heart transplantation program: a prospective, longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence of a lack of relationship between psychiatric disorders and physical status during a heart transplantation (HT) program would configure mental well-being as an independent endpoint deserving specific interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a prospective, longitudinal study on patients (n=127) undergoing HT in order to investigate the relationship between psychiatric disorders and physical status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At pre-HT evaluation, at least one psychiatric disorder according to the DSM-IV diagnoses was present in 27 patients (21%); the prevalence of psychiatric disorders was not related (p > or = 0.150) to physical status (assessed by clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic parameters). At post-HT evaluation 1 year after HT, all clinical-instrumental parameters significantly improved (p < or = 0.016), but not the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, which were diagnosed in 34 patients (p = 0.016 vs pre-HT).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the HT program, no significant relationship exists between physical status and prevalence of psychiatric disorders, which increases after the operation. This finding indicates the need for the mandatory provision of adequate psychological support during all of the phases of the HT experience.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, University of Bologna, Italy. francesco.grigioni@unibo.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grigioni
authors.forename: Anna Chiara
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Musuraca
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tossani
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Potena
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coccolo
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naldi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Samuela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carigi
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magnani
authors.forename: Romano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zannoli
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sirri
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arpesella
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magelli
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Branzi
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies