Psychosocial adaptation after liver transplantation with particularreference to recipients aware of their cancer

This study investigated the psychosocial adjustment in 40 patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT)for several endstage liver diseases. Twenty patients were grafted because they suffered from liver cancer as well as cirrhosis. Particular attention was paid to evaluating whether cancer could affect recipientsʹ coping with transplant. Each patient underwent a semi-structured interview to obtain information on their psychosocial life, relationship with the donor, organ acceptance and life expectancy. Interview was performed I year after transplantation. A psychodiagnostic evaluation was also performed using a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and a Human Figure Test. Psychosocial adaptation in everyday life following liver transplantation seemed good in most of the patients, whatever the indication for transplantation might be. It can be seen that by replacing the diseased organ a high percentage of oncological patients overcame their fear of cancer.