title: Benefits of Group Psychotherapy in Cirrhotic Patients on the Liver Transplant Waiting List.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well-known that patients on the liver transplant (LT) waiting list experience a high rate of psychopathologic symptoms. However, few studies have been published about the use of group psychotherapy for these patients. We sought to assess (1) the psychopathologic data in patients on the LT waiting list and (2) the attitude toward a group psychotherapy procedure and its efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the pretransplant consultation phase, group therapy was offered to 20 patients on the LT waiting list. Patients who received psychotherapy were assessed previously using the Beck Depression Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients were included in the study. Significant differences were found between the psychopathologic assessment and the level of hepatopathy. In the first session, we observed that patients with hepatocarcinoma were much more reluctant to participate in the group therapy. In the second session, the group showed a high level of anxiety connected with a fear of transplantation. In the third session, a transplant physician answered all their questions, and at the end of the session patient anxiety had decreased. During the following sessions, family bonds and sharing experiences with other transplant patients were emphasized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients were initially reluctant to participate in the group psychotherapy, although this changed as sessions proceeded. It is necessary to provide more information about the transplant procedure itself to decrease anxiety. Group therapy was valued positively by all patients who participated.
authors.affiliation: Regional Transplant Center, Consejería de Sanidad y Consumo de la Región de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain; Department of Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: ramirezp@um.es.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain; Department of Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Febrero
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain; Department of Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez-Alarcón
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abete
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galera
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain; Department of Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cascales
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Universidad Católica San Antonio (UCAM), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: López-Navas
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain; Department of Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Murcia, Spain; Department of Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parrilla
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014850:Waiting Lists