[Predictive and rehabilitative perspectives in heart transplantation]

27 patients who underwent heart transplantation one to five years ago, were evaluated concerning psychological and social adjustment after heart transplantation. Prior to cardiac transplantation, predictors for good rehabilitation status were absence of psychopathology, clear motivation, good social background, advanced physical debility (being bedridden as opposed to ambulatory), absence of a history of excessive alcohol consumption. Age was not found to be a predictor of outcome. Criteria for good rehabilitation status after cardiac transplantation were absence of psychopathology, good compliance, social reintegration, return to work, psychological well-being, satisfaction with the quality of life and good exercise capacity. The criteria for good rehabilitation correlate positively with the predictors specified and with each other. Psychopathology after cardiac transplantation was related to psychopathology prior to the intervention, motivation, social background, postoperative compliance, social reintegration, return to work, psychological well-being and satisfaction with the quality of life. Compliance was related with the predictors motivation, social background, history of excessive alcohol consumption, psychopathology after transplantation and return to work. Social reintegration was correlated with social background and post-transplantation psychopathology. Return to work was related to motivation, post-transplantation psychopathology and compliance. While physical well-being was not associated with the predictors except motivation, it was related to the rehabilitation factors of post-transplantation psychopathology, social reintegration, and return to work. Satisfaction with the quality of life correlated with only the rehabilitation factors of post-transplantation psychopathology and psychological well-being. Physical exercise capacity was related to psychological well-being after transplantation.