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Updated: Apr 10, 2026
Investigating the Immunological Mechanisms Underlying Organ Transplant Rejection
Published on: August 20, 2007
Posttraumatic stress disorder in organ transplant recipients: a systematic review
Dimitry S Davydow1, Erika D Lease2, Jorge D Reyes3
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Objective:
To summarize and critically review the existing literature on the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following organ transplantation, risk factors for posttransplantation PTSD and the relationship of posttransplant PTSD to other clinical outcomes including health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and mortality.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic literature review using PubMed, CINAHL Plus, the Cochrane Library and PsycInfo and a search of the online contents of 18 journals.
Results:
Twenty-three studies were included. Posttransplant, the point prevalence of clinician-ascertained PTSD ranged from 1% to 16% (n=738), the point prevalence of questionnaire-assessed substantial PTSD symptoms ranged from 0% to 46% (n=1024) and the cumulative incidence of clinician-ascertained transplant-specific PTSD ranged from 10% to 17% (n=482). Consistent predictors of posttransplant PTSD included history of psychiatric illness prior to transplantation and poor social support posttransplantation. Posttransplant PTSD was consistently associated with worse mental HRQOL and potentially associated with worse physical HRQOL.
Conclusions:
PTSD may impact a substantial proportion of organ transplant recipients. Future studies should focus on transplant-specific PTSD and clarify potential risk factors for, and adverse outcomes related to, posttransplant PTSD.
