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Psychiatric Aspects of Heart Transplantation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

François M. Mai
François M. Mai*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
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Abstract

There are many practical psychiatric, social, and ethical problems which accompany heart transplantation. These include pre- and postoperative anxiety and depressive conditions, postoperative delirium, and social and family dysfunctional syndromes. This paper reviews the literature critically in the following five areas: pre-transplant evaluation, coping with surgery, postoperative sequelae, rehabilitation, and management. Although most recipients have a good outcome from the physical and psychiatric points of view, a substantial minority experience family conflicts and sexual dysfunction after surgery. An average of 45% of patients from all studies returned to full-time employment. The distinctive role and contribution of the psychiatrist on the transplant team is discussed and important areas for future research are outlined.

Type
Review Articles
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 163 , Issue 3 , September 1993 , pp. 285 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1993 

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