Psychosocial determinants of quality of life 6 months after transplantation: longitudinal prospective study

Transplant Proc. 2009 Apr;41(3):898-900. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2009.01.053.

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to investigate the psychosocial determinants of quality of life at 6 months after transplantation.

Methods: A sample of liver transplant candidates (n = 60), composed of consecutive patients (25% with familial amyloid polyneuropathy [FAP]) attending outpatient clinics was assessed in the pretransplant period using the Neo Five Factor Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and depression Scale (HADS), Brief COPE, and SF-36, a quality-of-life, self-rating questionnaire. Six months after transplantation, these patients were assessed by means of the SF-36.

Results: Psychosocial predictors where found by means of multiple regression analysis. The physical component of quality of life at 6 months after transplantation was determined based upon coping strategies and physical quality of life in the pretransplant period (this model explained 32% of variance). The mental component at 6 months after transplantation was determined by depression in the pretransplant period and by clinical diagnoses of patients. Because FAP patients show a lower mental component of quality of life, this diagnosis explained 25% of the variance.

Conclusions: Our findings suggested that coping strategies and depression measured in the pretransplant period are important determinants of quality of life at 6 months after liver transplantation.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / surgery*
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases / classification
  • Liver Diseases / surgery
  • Liver Transplantation / physiology*
  • Liver Transplantation / psychology*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Personality*
  • Psychology*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surveys and Questionnaires