title: [Stress symptoms and health-related quality of life in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study explored the presence of stress symptoms among orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients and investigated how stress symptoms are linked to health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A new concept of adjustment disorder as a stress response syndrome according to Maercker was considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 76 OLT recipients, all of whom had been treated in the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation Surgery, University of Medicine of Graz, Austria. A self-rating scale was administered to evaluate stress symptoms (PTSS-10). The data on health-related quality of life were obtained from the SF-36 (Health Status Questionnaire).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following OLT 30.3 % (n = 23) of the sample suffered from stress symptoms. In the group of patients suffering from stress symptoms there were significant impairments in health related quality of life in the SF-36 health-related domains physical functioning, role physical, pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role emotional, and mental health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OLT recipients may face a major risk of OLT-related postoperative stress symptoms in the sense of adjustment disorders according to Maercker. Stress symptoms are highly associated with impairments in quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie der Medizinischen Universität Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, A-8036 Graz. Andreas.Baranyi@klinikum-graz.at
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baranyi
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rösler
authors.forename: Hans-Bernd
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Rothenhäusler
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires