Psychologists are routinely involved in the presurgical screening of candidates for medical procedures, including the screening of potential organ recipients. Psychologists doing these kinds of evaluations examine aspects of candidates’ psychological health that may influence the success of such surgeries, such as patients’ cognitive functioning, history of medical adherence, and degree of psychological distress. New research by Dr. Kristin Kuntz (The Ohio State University Medical Center) and Dr. Diane Bonfiglio (Ashland University) examined the incidence of anxiety and depression in end-stage renal disease patients upon their first referral for transplant evaluation. The researchers found that approximately 15% of patients screened met criteria for a current depressive disorder, while more than 7% met criteria for a current anxiety disorder. It is hoped that this data will aid transplant teams in caring for patients that seek organ transplant.
This research is currently discussed in an Online First article on the website of The Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings; it also will appear in an upcoming print issue of the same journal.