Psychosocial adjustment after renal retransplants

Twenty-four patients who underwent more than one kidney transplant were interviewed to assess their psychosocial adaptation. Of these 24, we found 15 patients with a functioning kidney and 9 patients with a nonfunctioning transplant who were back on hemodialysis. In both groups, approximately 50% of the patients had life satisfaction ratings of "good" and "very good." The groups differed in two respects. Those with a functioning kidney had a higher employment rate and a better sexual functioning than the group on dialysis. We found many similarities in all other scored parameters (optimism, object relationships, coping devices, psychologic functioning). Denial was commonly used by most of the patients, but the group of patients who scored "good" and "very good" on life satisfaction more frequently utilized other coping devices, such as altruism, "feeling chosen," inner control, and activity than patients with "fair" or "poor" life satisfaction.