[Psychosocial aspects of heart transplantation; 4-year experience]

The psychosocial aspects of heart transplantation are described on the basis of the experience gained with these patients in the University Hospital Rotterdam (Dijkzigt) from 1984 to 1988. Quality of life before and after heart transplantation was determined using a comprehensive patient questionnaire. This questionnaire was presented by means of a personal computer. Forty-eight patients completed the pretransplant questionnaire. Data on the quality of life 4 and 13 months after transplantation were available for 33 and 20 patients, respectively, mainly due to the limited observation time. Severe anxiety and depressive mood were the predominant features of patients before transplantation. After transplantation the level of anxiety returns to normal within four months. However, sleep disturbances and depressive feelings may persist. Despite physical recovery, only few return to full or partial employment. Our findings confirm international experience and suggest appropriate psychosocial support in the period following the transplantation procedure.