[The Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Lung Transplant Candidates and Recipients]

The goal of this study was to compare PTSD frequencies of patients who are on a waiting list for a transplant (WL) and patients who have had a lung transplant (L-Tx).

Data concerning PTSD (IES-R, SKID-I), the quality of life (SF-36), social support (F-SozU), anxiety and depression (HADS-D) was collected from patients on waiting lists (n=44) and transplant patients (n=48).

The PTSD results of patients on WL were significantly higher (25%), than those of patients after L-Tx (6.25%). Especially the rates on subscales about intrusion and hyper-arousal showed a higher symptomatology for WL-patients. Patients after L-Tx had a significantly better physical and mental quality of life as well as a significantly lower level of depressiveness and anxiety.

The lower PTSD rates of the transplant participants indicate that the psychological symptoms will at least partially decrease when patients have fewer negative physical symptoms after L-Tx.