Frontiers in Transplantation (Sep 2023)

Psychosocial assessment tools for use before transplantation are predictive of post-operative psychosocial and health behavior outcomes: a narrative review of the literature

  • Sorin Thode,
  • Keith Perry,
  • Keith Perry,
  • Samuel Cyr,
  • Samuel Cyr,
  • Anique Ducharme,
  • Anique Ducharme,
  • David Puissant,
  • Judith Brouillette,
  • Judith Brouillette

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/frtra.2023.1250184
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2

Abstract

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IntroductionIn end-stage diseases, transplantation may be necessary. The limited number of donors led to the development of several pre-transplant psychosocial assessment tools. We summarized the predictive value of these tools before solid-organ transplantation.MethodsThe PRISMA search strategy and the MEDLINE database were used to review the literature. From 1,050 records, we found thirteen studies using four different scales (Millon Behavioral Health Inventory [MBHI], Psychosocial Assessment of Transplant Candidates [PACT], Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation [SIPAT], and Transplant Evaluation Rating Scale [TERS]).ResultsTERS and MBHI were associated with the highest number of positive studies concerning pre-transplant scores and primary outcomes. Psychosocial scales predict in a systematic way psychosocial and health behavioural outcomes, but generated mixed results for mortality and rejection.DiscussionThis narrative review underlines the need for multidisciplinary evaluation and well-conducted clinical trials to assist transplant teams in utilizing psychosocial evaluation effectively during evaluation of candidates.

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