Psychiatric morbidity in renal transplantation

51 patients on chronic dialysis, awaiting transplantation, were assessed using a standardised psychiatric interview, together with measures of anxiety, depression, locus of control and social adjustment. 33% of the patients warranted a psychiatric diagnosis. During the study period, 30 patients received a transplanted kidney and 18 could be followed up 12 months after transplantation, when only 3 had a psychiatric disorder (17%). Previous psychiatric history was the main predictor of psychiatric symptomatology and of psychiatric referral during follow-up. However, symptomatology at follow-up also correlated with affective symptoms and selected aspects of social adjustment at initial interview.