Psychosomatic problems surrounding kidney transplantation. Incidence of alexithymia and psychiatric disturbances.

Psychosomatic problems surrounding kidney transplantation were examined in 16 recipients. Either alexithymia or psychiatric disturbances were observed in 93.8% (15 cases) recipients. The incidence of psychiatric disturbances during pre- and posttransplant periods was 43.8% (7 cases) and 18.8% (3 cases), respectively; that of alexithymia was 31.3 and 6.3%. None of the 7 cases with psychiatric disturbances before transplant manifested any disturbances after transplant, whereas 3 of the 9 cases without psychiatric disturbances showed psychiatric disturbances after transplant. Most psychiatric disturbances after transplant were related to a depressive state. These results indicate that psychiatric symptoms before transplant are not associated with induction of posttransplant psychosis, suggesting that coping with depression due to postoperative rejection may be more important in the future.