Psychological response and quality of life after transplantation: a comparison between heart, lung, liver and kidney recipients.
BACKGROUND
Various non-specific questionnaires were used to measure quality of life and psychological wellbeing of patients after organ transplantation. At present cross-organ studies dealing specifically with the psychological response to a transplanted organ are non-existent in German-speaking countries.


METHODS
The Transplant Effects Questionnaire TxEQ-D and the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to examine the psychological response and quality of life of 370 patients after heart, lung, liver or kidney transplantation. The organ groups were compared with regard to psychosocial parameters.


RESULTS
72% of patients develop a feeling of responsibility for the received organ and its function. This feeling is even stronger towards the patient's key relationships i.e. family, friends, the treatment team and the donor. 11.6% worry about the transplanted organ. Heart and lung patients report significantly fewer concerns than liver and kidney patients. Overall, only a minority of patients report feelings of guilt towards the donor (2.7%), problems in disclosing their transplant to others (2.4%), or difficulties in complying with medical orders (3.5%). Lung transplant patients show significantly better adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
A feeling of responsibility towards those one is close to and towards the donor is a common psychological phenomenon after transplantation of an organ. Conscious feelings of guilt and shame are harboured by only a minority of patients. The fact that heart and lung patients worry less about their transplant might have primarily to do with the greater medical and psychosocial support in this group.
Goetzmann
Lutz
L
Department of Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. lutz.goetzmann@usz.ch
Sarac
Nera
N
Ambühl
Patrice
P
Boehler
Annette
A
Irani
Sarosh
S
Muellhaupt
Beat
B
Noll
Georg
G
Schleuniger
Monika
M
Schwegler
Kyrill
K
Buddeberg
Claus
C
Klaghofer
Richard
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult