Obsessive-compulsive psychological symptoms of patients on the liver transplant waiting list

Abstract

Introduction: Patients on the liver transplant waiting list have increased emotional and clinical symptoms. The presence of psychopathologic symptoms associated with obsession-compulsion as a reflection of alterations due to anxiety disorders is common in these patients.

Objective: To evaluate obsessive-compulsive psychopathological symptoms in patients on the liver transplant waiting list.

Materials and methods: The study included 50 patients on the liver transplant waiting list. The instrument was the SA-45 questionnaire (Derogatis, 75), whose Spanish version was adapted by González Rivera and De las Cuevas (1988). This dimension was evaluated using five statements.

Results: Among of the patients on the liver transplant waiting list, 46% had no relevant obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Of these, 28% had no symptoms and 18% had some symptoms, but the overall evaluation in these patients was no greater than the cutoff point. The remaining 54% had relevant obsessive-compulsive clinical symptoms, most commonly (1) "Having difficulty making decisions" (P<3.45·10(-9)); (2) "Having difficulty concentrating" (P<1.70·10(-8)); (3) "One's mind goes blank" (P<3.04·10(-4)); (4) "Having to repeatedly check everything being done" (P<1.37·10(-1)); and (5) "Having to do things slowly to make sure they are done properly" (P<5.02·10(-1)).

Conclusions: Many patients on the liver transplant waiting list have obsessive-compulsive psychopathologic symptoms. Their detection and application of adequate psychological treatment are important to minimize the effects of emotional changes onward from the pretransplant phase.