Waiting for a Liver Transplant: Psychosocial Well-Being, Spirituality, and Need for Counseling

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Waiting for a Liver Transplant:

Psychosocial Well-Being, Spirituality, and Need for Counseling

L. Goetzmann, R. Wagner-Huber, R.

Klaghofer, B. Muellhaup, P.A. Clavien, C. Buddeberg and E. Scheuer

aUniversity Hospital Zurich, Zurich,

Switzerland. Available

online 15

November 2006.

Abstract

The

number of patients in need of a liver transplant vastly exceeds the number of

available organs; the demand worldwide for organs leads to increased waiting

times and mortality of patients on the waiting list. The

aim of our study was to assess the psychosocial

well-being of transplant candidates and their need for psychosocial counseling.

Methods

Sixty-nine

liver transplant candidates were asked about their psychosocial well-being,

quality of life, spirituality, and need for counseling assessed by interview

and questionnaire (HADS-D, FLZ, LOT, SOC,

SF-36, SBI-15R) during the initial evaluation

procedure for organ transplantation as well as 3 and 6 months after listing.

Results

Candidates

for a liver transplant exhibited a significant limitation in the levels of

their quality of life and psychological well-being, compared with the community

normal samples. They showed significantly higher

levels of anxiety, but lower levels of spirituality. Almost

half of the candidates (47%) expressed a need for counseling during the

evaluation procedure. Patients with advanced diseases

reported a lower need. Age and the personality-related

“Sense of Coherence” correlated negatively with need for counseling. On the waiting list, psychosocial parameters and functions

remained largely stable; the need for counseling decreased significantly.

Conclusions

There is

a relevant need for psychosocial counseling during the process of liver

transplant evaluation. Need for counseling is

associated with personality and age, as well as with somatic parameters.