ANXIETY IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE: CHANGES POST TRANSPLANTATION

✍ Scribed by MOORE, KATHLEEN A. ;BURROWS, GRAHAM D. ;HARDY, KENNETH J.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 140 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0748-8386
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1700(199701)13:1<49::aid-smi720>3.0.co;2-5

✦ Synopsis

Anxiety is a common experience in chronic illness but for many with end-stage liver disease it is also associated with the stress of waiting for a donor organ to become available. Quality of life, work, family and social roles are all impaired and these losses may also contribute to depression. This article investigated anxiety and depression associated with end-stage liver disease and changes in these mood states following successful liver transplantation. Patients with non-alcoholic cirrhosis and healthy volunteers comprised the control groups. Signi®cant reductions in the measurement of anxiety and positive mood changes occurred as early as 1 month post transplant and were maintained across the course of the study. However, qualitative data suggest that discrete episodes of anxiety may still exist post transplant. These episodes appear to be related to maintaining the newly acquired `wellness' and availability of support. Most patients were able to resume work by 9 months post transplant.