Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2012 Jul;23(3):115-121.

Relationship between Psychological Profile of Living Donor for Liver Transplantation and Post-Surgical Pain Score, Opioid Analgesics Amounts and Duration

• You S
• Shin K
• Wang HJ
• Kim BW
• Noh JS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Living donor liver transplantation is a surgical treatment which could impose a heavy burden on both the recipient and the potential donor. Preoperative psychological evaluation of the potential donor is essential in protecting one's psychosocial well-being, as well as one's autonomy. In this research, we examined the correlation between the preoperative psychological profile of the potential donor and one's postoperative pain and opioid analgesic usage.
METHODS
Retrospective review of the medical records of all living donors who had completed preoperative psychological evaluation in our transplantation center from January, 2010 to December, 2011 was done. Preoperative psychological evaluation included Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), Sentence Complete Test and an interview with a psychiatrist. Mean postoperative pain within 7 days after the surgery was evaluated. Dosages of all opioid analgesics were converted to equivalent dosage of morphine.
RESULTS
Depression T-score showed a significant correlation with the duration of opioid analgesics usage (R2=0.306, F=12.363). Also, F score and dosage of opioid analgesics (R2=0.360, F=15.766), as well as Psychasthenia T- score and postoperative mean pain score (R2=0.137, F=4.448) showed significant correlation.
CONCLUSION
Depression T-score, F score and Psychastenia T-score from MMPI-2 are well known to reflect one's depression, discontent, psychological instability and chronic anxiety. Such personalized and specified psychiatric intervention could help the donor to cope with post-surgical pain better.

Keyword

Living donors; Liver transplantation; MMPI; Postoperative pain

MeSH Terms

Analgesics, Opioid
Anxiety
Depression
Humans
Liver
Liver Transplantation
Living Donors
Medical Records
Minnesota
MMPI
Pain, Postoperative
Phosphatidylethanolamines
Psychiatry
Retrospective Studies
Tissue Donors
Transplants
Analgesics, Opioid
Phosphatidylethanolamines