Prospective psychosocial evaluation of related kidney donors: Indian perspective

With increasing acceptance of living organ transplantation and growing numbers of organ donors, it becomes important to look for any adverse outcomes in this population. Prospective psychosocial evaluation of living related donors and assessment of the outcome of donation process was done. We also tried to identify any risk factors associated with any adverse event. Between January 2003 and December 2003, 75 consecutive donors (mean age 42.8 +/- 11.6 years; M:F 54:21) were interviewed preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively based on a 57-item questionnaire. Objective assessment of anxiety, depression, and social support was done with "modified Beck's depression inventory," "Speilberg's state and trait anxiety," and "social support" questionnaires. The majority (85.3%) of donors had volunteered for donation. There were no major depressive or anxiety disorders following donation. Though 21.3% donors perceived some negative impact on their health, none regretted the decision to donate and most (96%) would encourage organ donation. Prolonged donor hospitalization, persistent pain, poor recipient reciprocation, or recipient death were associated with a poor psychosocial outcome.