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

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.