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Psychosomatic interrelations following liver transplantation
Marc Walter1, Dierk Moyzes, Matthias Rose
1Clinic for Internal Medicine, Psychosomatics/Psychotherapy, Charité, Berlin, Germany. marc.walter@charite.de
Clinical Transplantation
|July 9, 2002
Summary
Quality of life improved post-liver transplantation, but patients experienced increased pain. This pain correlated with reduced bone density and psychological distress, suggesting potential somatization or depression after liver transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sciences
- Psychology
Background:
- Liver transplantation (LTX) is known to improve quality of life (QoL).
- Post-transplantation psychosocial parameters require further investigation.
- The origin of post-operative complaints needs clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate psychosocial parameter development after liver transplantation (LTX).
- To determine if post-operative complaints stem from osteoporosis or somatization.
- To analyze the relationship between physical and psychological health post-LTX.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 82 liver transplant recipients.
- Assessment of biomedical and psychosocial parameters before and 1, 3 years post-LTX.
- Measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) for osteoporosis and validated questionnaires for mood, complaints, and QoL.
Main Results:
- Overall QoL and mood significantly improved post-LTX.
- Continuous increase in back and limb pain observed.
- Pain correlated strongly with reduced BMD, increased tiredness, and depressive anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Increased pain post-LTX may indicate developing somatization or depression.
- Biologically based medical treatments might influence the manifestation of depression as a disorder.
- Further research is needed to understand the interplay of physical and psychological health after liver transplantation.