Psychosocial and behavioral selection criteria for solid organ transplantation

An evidence-based selection process for organ transplantation may be a valuable approach to improve posttransplant outcomes. This paper reviews state-of-the-art psychosocial and behavioral selection criteria and assesses their validity in view of predicting outcomes after transplantation. Psychosocial factors addressed are psychiatric disorders, mental retardation, irreversible cognitive dysfunction, and lack of social support. Behavioral selection criteria discussed are alcoholism, smoking, drug abuse, and obesity. This review reveals that the evidence concerning these selection criteria in scarce. There is a definite need for more longitudinal research to strengthen the scientific basis of the psychosocial and behavioral dimension of transplantation.