Psychological distress in patients listed for liver transplantation

Abstract

It is extremely important to assess psychological distress in patients listed for liver transplantation. An interdisciplinary approach is essential to improve the patients' quality of life both in the pre- and post-transplant periods.

Liver Transplant—Psychiatric and Psychosocial Aspects

“…[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] The sample sizes of such studies have ranged from 20 to 247. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] Various instruments have been used to measure and diagnose depression including self-rating scales like Beck Depression Inventory; clinician rated scale like Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and structured interviews with professionals. The rates of depression have varied from 4.5% 31 to 64%.…”

Cognitive performance and mood in patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation and their relation to the model for end-stage liver disease

“…A study carried out in Ribeirão Preto 7 showed that there is an inversely correlation between associated hepatic problems and period of time spent on the waiting list for liver transplantation. This was also related to an improvement in psychological state due to interruption in the use of alcohol and clinic stabilization 7 . When years of education were taken into account, the better performance of patients with higher education corroborates previous studies showing similar results.…”

“…This battery is composed of tests of attention and of short term memory and has been used to indicate the presence of a condition known as pre-clinical minimal HE (MHE) [3][4][5] . Another important problem associated with diseases of the liver is the presence of mood disorders, with depression as the main symptom in cirrhotic patients 6,7 . In patients with cirrhosis related to hepatitis C the mood disorders may be part of the neuropsychological syndrome associated with the infection 2 .…”

Depressão e qualidade de vida em pacientes no pré e pós-transplante renal

“…29 The problems experienced by patients with chronic kidney disease have a negative quality of life 5,11,23, , as seen in table 6, in which virtually all domains related to quality of life were lower compared to kidney transplantation, as described by the authors. 23,32 Other reason that may cause depression in patients with CRF that are in the wating list for a transplant consists possibly in the form of confronting the new situation. The stress experienced by these patients when faced with the possibility of transplantation could trigger a depressive disorder.…”

“…47 However, although this study and most of the research already mentioned presented more satisfactory results in relation to the QOL among the transplant patients, it is worth noting the potential commitment in the period after transplantation, focusing on some peculiar concerns of this period, for example, changes in body image, insecurity with a possible return to the professional activities, fear of the rejection of the graft and return to dialysis, as confirmed by some authors. 7,22,32,35 As far as social aspect is concerned, the higher score was related to a small number of patients of the pre-transplant line that presented divergent social characteristics from others, like higher income, better housing, higher intellectual level and access to private or contracted health treatment, bringing the average scores on this component.…”