Psychopathological aspects of kidney transplantation: Efficacy of a multidisciplinary team

Core Tip

Core tip: Kidney transplantation is now an established clinical technique, although the emotional experiences and the psychological and psychopathological complications related to organ donation and transplantation should not be underestimated. Following transplantation, problems related to the physical integration of a foreign body can arise. On the one hand, the “Life-Extending” process creates a kind of symbolic rebirth with euphoric aspects, and on the other hand, the patient can develop a kind of emotional vulnerability with body image and self-representation disorders, or paranoid reactions to a panic crisis due to the presence of a foreign object (transplanted organ). In fact, the transplanted patient may experience a reactive psychopathologic process (depression, anxiety, dissociative disorder) both due to transplanted organ acceptance difficulties and immunosuppressive therapy complications. The study of psychological aspects and their evaluation using a multidisciplinary approach are important to avoid issues not adequately recognized, which can undermine the transplant success, and/or lead to psychological distress and psychological suffering in the patient. Transplanted patient re-employment and social and family reintegration requires psychotherapeutic support to implement new coping strategies.