Psychological screening and follow-up care for living liver donors: 5-year prospective cohort data from a single academic center

Abstract

Aim

This study reports on the outcomes of psychological screening and care for all living donor candidates who entered our center’s program since the start in 2018, and is the first study to evaluate the use of the ELPAT Psychosocial Assessment Tool (EPAT) for this population.

Methods

All donor candidates were screened using the ELPAT Psychosocial Assessment Tool (EPAT), consisting of a structured interview with set topics and a combination of validated questionnaires. Reports of the interviews were retrieved form the medical records and analysed per topic. Data from the questionnaires were analysed with existing cut-off scores. An independent samples t-test was used to compare means of related versus unrelated donors. Data on additional pre- or post donation psychological treatment was retrieved from the medical records.

Results

137 donor candidates underwent psychology screening for living liver donation. Over half of them had sought professional mental health support and/or used psychotropic drugs in the past. However, the average scores for current anxiety and depression as measures by the questionnaires were low. Unrelated donor candidates had statistically significant lower scores on emotional support and anxiety. Of all candidates, 2 were declined for psychological reasons; 53 eventually donated part of their liver, and of these, 15 received additional psychological treatment.

Discussion

The EPAT is a useful tool for living liver donor screening, covering all important psychological domains. Providing psychological treatment on indication proved to be a feasible way for this group to deal with potential psychological complaints during the process.