Importance of depression and active coping in liver transplant candidates' quality of life

Objective-To investigate the importance of psychiatric and psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, personality traits, and coping strategies in liver transplant candidates' quality of life. Methods-A total of 131 consecutive liver transplant candidates attending outpatient clinics at a liver transplantation central unit were assessed by means of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form quality-of-life questionnaire, psychiatric diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Alental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Taxt Revision, a personality inventory (NEO Five-Factor Inventory), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Brief COPE scale. Results and Conclusions-Both physical and mental components of quality of life are far more correlated with depression and active coping strategy than with clinical and sociodemographic factors. Neuroticism was also strongly correlated with the mental component of quality of life, and employment was correlated with the physical component of quality of life. (Progress in Transplantation. 2009; 19:85-89)