title: Psychopathological aspects of kidney transplantation: Efficacy of a multidisciplinary team.
abstract: Renal transplantation is a well established treatment for end-stage renal disease, allowing most patients to return to a satisfactory quality of life. Studies have identified many problems that may affect adaptation to the transplanted condition and post-operative compliance. The psychological implications of transplantation have important consequences even on strictly physical aspects. Organ transplantation is very challenging for the patient and acts as an intense stressor stimulus to which the patient reacts with neurotransmitter and endocrine-metabolic changes. Transplantation can result in a psychosomatic crisis that requires the patient to mobilize all bio-psycho-social resources during the process of adaptation to the new foreign organ which may result in an alteration in self-representation and identity, with possible psychopathologic repercussions. These reactions are feasible in mental disorders, e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and psychosomatic disorders. In organ transplantation, the fruitful collaboration between professionals with diverse scientific expertise, calls for both a guarantee for mental health and greater effectiveness in challenging treatments for a viable association between patients, family members and doctors. Integrated and multidisciplinary care should include uniform criteria and procedures for standard assessments, for patient autonomy, adherence to therapy, new coping strategies and the adoption of more appropriate lifestyles.
authors.affiliation: Concetta De Pasquale, Massimiliano Veroux, Luisa Indelicato, Nunzia Sinagra, Alessia Giaquinta, Pierfrancesco Veroux, Maria L Pistorio, Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Pasquale
authors.affiliation: Concetta De Pasquale, Massimiliano Veroux, Luisa Indelicato, Nunzia Sinagra, Alessia Giaquinta, Pierfrancesco Veroux, Maria L Pistorio, Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.affiliation: Concetta De Pasquale, Massimiliano Veroux, Luisa Indelicato, Nunzia Sinagra, Alessia Giaquinta, Pierfrancesco Veroux, Maria L Pistorio, Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Indelicato
authors.affiliation: Concetta De Pasquale, Massimiliano Veroux, Luisa Indelicato, Nunzia Sinagra, Alessia Giaquinta, Pierfrancesco Veroux, Maria L Pistorio, Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Nunzia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sinagra
authors.affiliation: Concetta De Pasquale, Massimiliano Veroux, Luisa Indelicato, Nunzia Sinagra, Alessia Giaquinta, Pierfrancesco Veroux, Maria L Pistorio, Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giaquinta
authors.affiliation: Concetta De Pasquale, Massimiliano Veroux, Luisa Indelicato, Nunzia Sinagra, Alessia Giaquinta, Pierfrancesco Veroux, Maria L Pistorio, Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fornaro
authors.affiliation: Concetta De Pasquale, Massimiliano Veroux, Luisa Indelicato, Nunzia Sinagra, Alessia Giaquinta, Pierfrancesco Veroux, Maria L Pistorio, Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.affiliation: Concetta De Pasquale, Massimiliano Veroux, Luisa Indelicato, Nunzia Sinagra, Alessia Giaquinta, Pierfrancesco Veroux, Maria L Pistorio, Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pistorio
keywords: Kidney transplantation; Psychiatric consultation; Psychological care; Social and family support; Therapeutic compliance