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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2009; 15(6): 694-696
Published online Feb 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.694
Published online Feb 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.694
Psychological evaluation and follow-up in liver transplantation
Josephine G Morana, Department of Clinical Psychology, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Therapies (ISMETT), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Via Tricomi 1, Palermo 90127, Italy
Author contributions: Morana JG wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Josephine G Morana, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Therapies (ISMETT), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Via Tricomi 1, Palermo 90127, Italy. jmorana@ismett.edu
Telephone: +39-91-2192111
Fax: +39-91-2192344
Received: July 4, 2008
Revised: October 12, 2008
Accepted: October 19, 2008
Published online: February 14, 2009
Revised: October 12, 2008
Accepted: October 19, 2008
Published online: February 14, 2009
Abstract
An increasingly number of transplant centers have integrated a psychological assessment within their protocol for evaluation of patients being considered for transplantation. This paper highlights the psychological criteria for inclusion or exclusion for listing, briefly discusses the psychological dynamics of patients, and addresses possible psychotherapy and pharmacological therapy, before and after transplant.