Improved mental health status in the first 2 weeks after kidney transplantation

There is controversy whether mental health actually improves among kidney transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was any significant change in mental status during the first 2 weeks after kidney transplantation. This cohort study involved 97 individuals who were transplantation candidates between 2003 and 2004. During the pretransplantation assessment, each individual completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, short form (MMPI). Posttransplantation subjects completed the GHQ-28 again. There were significant differences between mean total GHQ raw scores before and at 2 weeks after transplantation. Significant correlations were detected between a history of referral to a psychiatrist and a change in each of the 4 GHQ subscale scores. Our findings suggest that most kidney recipients show improved mental health in the early phase (first 14 days) after surgery. However, the results were not as positive as expected. Patients with a history of psychiatrist referral require special psychological attention.