Measuring psychological distress in candidates for liver transplantation: a pilot study

A protocol to evaluate the psychopathology of candidates for orthotopic (whole organ) liver transplantation (OLTX) is presented. Patients being considered for OLTX at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System were routinely referred for psychological evaluation consisting of a clinical interview and battery of standardized tests. The findings on 26 patients corroborate previous reports of psychological distress among transplant candidates. There is also evidence that higher levels of disturbance are observed among patients with a positive history of substance abuse. This study supports the value of standardized testing in the transplant population and suggests directions for further research.