Transplant-related trauma, personal growth and alcohol use outcomes in a cohort of patients receiving transplants for alcohol associated liver disease

Liver transplantation (LT) is stressful experience which can cause psychological trauma but also positive growth. We examined the prevalence of transplant related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in a cohort of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) LT r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:General hospital psychiatry 2021-09, Vol.72, p.73-80
Main Authors: Kruckenberg, Katherine M., Shenai, Neeta, Dew, Mary Amanda, Switzer, Galen, Hughes, Christopher, DiMartini, Andrea F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Alcohol use
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Liver Diseases
Liver transplant
Post-traumatic growth
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
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Summary:Liver transplantation (LT) is stressful experience which can cause psychological trauma but also positive growth. We examined the prevalence of transplant related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in a cohort of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) LT recipients. We also examined whether PTG or PTSD symptoms were associated with post-LT alcohol use. Cross sectional survey of 51 ALD LT recipients one-year post-LT assessed PTSD symptoms, PTG, stress, self-efficacy, social support, and alcohol use. 18% endorsed symptoms of PTSD; 59% endorsed high PTG. PTSD symptoms and PTG were not associated. 18% drank alcohol; 10% returned to health harmful use. Neither PTSD symptoms nor PTG were associated with alcohol use. Less self-efficacy to abstain and thoughts of drinking were associated with alcohol use. A substantial percentage of ALD LT patients had transplant-related PTSD symptoms and high PTG. Alcohol use was not associated with PTSD symptoms or PTG. Lower self-efficacy to abstain from alcohol use may provide a valuable clinical measure to assess risk for post-LT use. Clinical screening for PTSD would be beneficial as effective treatments for PTSD exist. Whether PTG can be facilitated in transplant recipients would be a valuable future line of inquiry.
ISSN:0163-8343
1873-7714
DOI:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.07.005