6533b85cfe1ef96bd12bc98a
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Psychological Conflicts Between Relatives During the Long-Term Course After Successful Living Organ Donation
E. WandelM. E. BeutelG. Greif-higerPeter R. GalleGerd Ottosubject
AdultMalemedicine.medical_specialtyTime Factorsmedicine.medical_treatmentFamily conflictStalemateLiver transplantationNephrectomyConflict PsychologicalInterviews as TopicInterpersonal relationshipLiving organ donationLiving DonorsmedicineHepatectomyHumansFamilyInterpersonal RelationsOrgan donationSpousesTransplantationbusiness.industryPsychosomatic medicineMiddle AgedSurgeryTransplantationFamily medicineFemaleSurgerybusinessFollow-Up Studiesdescription
The German transplantation law prefers living organ donation between close relatives and spouses, which is assumed to guarantee unequivocal altruistic motivation. Since 2001, 68 recipient-donor-pairs, who aspired to have a renal or liver transplantation, underwent a systematic psychosomatic evaluation. Meanwhile, 43 transplantations were performed including 34 renal and 9 liver cases. Seventeen recipient-donor-pairs were readministered evaluations by the department of psychosomatic medicine after 1 to 6 years after transplantation for long-term follow-up. In 10 cases of medically successful transplantation, we identified severe conflicts between donor, recipient, and next-of-kin. Major conflicts are presented by case vignettes regarding deterioration of a previously conflicted marriage, noncompliance of the recipient due to a marital stalemate, and family conflict revolving around refusal to donate. Based on these findings, concise assessments of donor-recipient-pairs are recommended regardless of family relationships. Particular attention must be paid to signs of conflict both before and after transplantation.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-05-01 | Transplantation Proceedings |