Psychiatric aspects of organ transplantation

Technical advances in surgery and the new antirejection agents cyclosporine and muromonab-CD3 have led to improved outcome for organ transplantation. Allograft rejection and complications of immunosuppressant therapy are often associated with considerable stress, so availability of psychiatric consultation is a necessity. As a transplant team consultant, the psychiatrist treats perioperative anxiety, depression, and organic brain dysfunction and addresses medical and ethical aspects of patient selection. Studies indicate that many patients with psychopathological conditions have good postoperative results and that most living kidney donors participate spontaneously and consider donation a positive experience.