The current study characterizes cognitive and psychiatric status in
hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients shortly before and
after transplant. Thirty adult patients were assessed prospectively
1–2 weeks before transplantation and 100 days posttransplantation on
neuropsychological and psychiatric measures. Before transplant,
participants showed mild impairments on several neuropsychological
measures, with the poorest performances occurring on learning and
attention. Psychiatric functioning was significantly elevated compared
with normative data. Significant improvements, however, were observed on
neuropsychological measures by 100 days after transplant. Depression and
anxiety scores also improved. Candidates for HSCT experienced mild diffuse
cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric morbidity before the procedure, but
these symptoms significantly improved by 3 months following their
transplant in this small sample. Education about these possible
pretransplant sequelae and the potential for rebound may be helpful to
patients and families as they prepare for this treatment and the recovery
period (JINS, 2007, 13, 172–177.)