ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The study explored the presence of stress symptoms among orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients and investigated how stress symptoms are linked to health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A new concept of adjustment disorder as a stress response syndrome according to Maercker was considered. METHODS: We recruited 76 OLT recipients, all of whom had been treated in the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation Surgery, University of Medicine of Graz, Austria. A self-rating scale was administered to evaluate stress symptoms (PTSS-10). The data on health-related quality of life were obtained from the SF-36 (Health Status Questionnaire). RESULTS: Following OLT 30.3 % (n = 23) of the sample suffered from stress symptoms. In the group of patients suffering from stress symptoms there were significant impairments in health related quality of life in the SF-36 health-related domains physical functioning, role physical, pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role emotional, and mental health. CONCLUSIONS: OLT recipients may face a major risk of OLT-related postoperative stress symptoms in the sense of adjustment disorders according to Maercker. Stress symptoms are highly associated with impairments in quality of life.
Subject(s)
Adjustment Disorders/psychology , Liver Transplantation/psychology , Postoperative Complications/psychology , Quality of Life/psychology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , Stress, Psychological/complications , Adjustment Disorders/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Chronic Pain/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Disability Evaluation , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/diagnosis , Psychometrics , Sick Role , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Our cross-sectional study aimed to explore the existence of depressive symptoms among orthotopic liver transplantation recipients and to investigate how depressive symptoms are linked to health-related quality of life, sexual satisfaction and cognitive performance. METHODS: We recruited 76 liver transplantation recipients. All patients were treated at the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation Surgery, University of Medicine of Graz, Graz, Austria. The psychometric observer-rating scale Hamilton Depression Scale was administered to evaluate depressive symptoms. Cognitive performance was based on the SKT. The data on health-related quality of life were obtained from the SF-36 and the data on sexual satisfaction were obtained from the FLZ. RESULTS: After the orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) 53,9% (n = 41) of the sample suffered from depressive symptoms. Impaired sexual functioning and impaired cognitive performance are a common feature in liver transplantation recipients with depressive symptoms. In the sample of patients suffering from depressive symptoms significant impairments in health-related quality of life were found in all SF-36 domains. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation recipients may face a major risk of liver transplantation-related depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms are highly associated with impairments in quality of life, sexual satisfaction and cognitive performance.
