Psychological aspects of renal transplantation.

The kidney was the first vital organ to be transplanted and the progenitor of knowledge of transplant immunology and psychology. With dialysis, it has heralded a new phase of medicine in which organs necessary for life can be replaced by transplanted ones or by artificial means. Many factors play a role in the decision to donate a kidney. Psychiatric complications of renal transplantation include those arising as a result of the use of immunosuppressants, anxiety, and sexual dysfunctions. Treatment should address the identifications of patients who are prone for psychological complications, the use of psychotropic medications, and the use of behavioral techniques for sexual dysfunction.