The Frequency and Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Mood, Alcohol Relapse, and Outcomes in Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with the development of negative health behaviors and medical illnesses. ACE's association with poor health outcomes has been well documented in the general population; however, this relationship remains less clear in liver transplant (LT) recipients.

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of ACE and the influence of ACE on LT outcomes.

ACLP Best Practice Guidance: Evaluation and Treatment of Depression in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

We present Academy of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry best practice guidance on depression in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, which resulted from the collaboration of Academy of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry's transplant psychiatry special interest group and Guidelines and Evidence-Based Medicine Subcommittee. Depression (which in the transplant setting may designate depressive symptoms or depressive disorders) is a frequent problem among SOT recipients. Following a structured literature review and consensus process, the Academy of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry transplant psychiatry special interest group proposes recommendations for practice: all organ transplant recipients should be screened routinely for depression.

Psychosocial and bioethical challenges and developments for the future of vascularized composite allotransplantation: A scoping review and viewpoint of recent developments and clinical experiences in the field of vascularized composite allotransplantation.

Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) has evolved in recent years, encompassing hand, face, uterus, penile, and lower extremity transplantation. Accordingly, without centralized oversight by United States Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) or European Programs, centers have developed their own practices and procedures that likely vary, and accordingly, present different levels of rigor to the evaluation process, internationally. The importance of psychosocial factors in the selection process and treatment course has been widely recognized, and therefore, several approaches have been developed to standardize and guide care of VCA candidates and recipients.

Using team science in vascularized composite allotransplantation to improve team and patient outcomes.

Reconstructive allografts using Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) are providing individuals living with upper limb loss and facial disfigurement with new opportunities for a sensate, esthetically acceptable, and functional alternative to current treatment strategies. Important research attention is being paid to how best to assess and screen candidates for VCA, measure optimal patient outcomes, and support patient adherence to lifelong behaviors and medical regimens. Far less attention, however, has been dedicated to the team science required for these complex VCA teams to form, prepare, and provide the highest quality clinical and psychosocial care to those receiving VCA.

Liver Transplantation After Bariatric Surgery: a Clinical Cohort Study.

Purpose: Individuals that undergo bariatric surgery are at higher risk for problematic alcohol use via pharmacokinetic changes in alcohol metabolism and cross addictions. Little data exists regarding post-bariatric surgery patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) who ultimately require liver transplantation. The aim of this project was to better understand demographic, medical, and psychological characteristics of post-bariatric surgery patients who undergo liver transplantation due to ALD.

Evaluating resilience as a predictor of outcomes in lung transplant candidates.

Background: Resilience represents the capacity to adapt to adversity. Resilience can improve following behavioral interventions. We examined lung transplant candidates' resilience as a novel predictor using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (RISC-10).

A Prospective Survey of Outpatient Medication Adherence in Adult Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients.

Limited data exist regarding the prevalence and outcome of medication nonadherence in the adult allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) population. The objective of this cross-sectional survey study is to determine the prevalence of medication nonadherence to immunosuppressant and nonimmunosuppressant medications in adult recipients of allo-HSCT. An electronic survey using previously validated medication adherence scales was distributed between December 2014 and April 2015 to 200 adult patients with at least 3 months of follow-up after allo-HSCT.

The Approach to the Psychosocial Evaluation of Cardiac Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Candidates.

Purpose Of Review: We update evidence underlying the recommendations of a 2018 multi-society consensus report regarding the psychosocial evaluation of individuals for cardiothoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support (MCS). In the present review, we focus on heart transplantation and MCS.

Recent Findings: Expert opinion and new evidence support the inclusion of ten core content areas in the psychosocial evaluation.

The 2018 ISHLT/APM/AST/ICCAC/STSW Recommendations for the Psychosocial Evaluation of Adult Cardiothoracic Transplant Candidates and Candidates for Long-term Mechanical Circulatory Support.

The psychosocial evaluation is well-recognized as an important component of the multifaceted assessment process to determine candidacy for heart transplantation, lung transplantation, and long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS). However, there is no consensus-based set of recommendations for either the full range of psychosocial domains to be assessed during the evaluation, or the set of processes and procedures to be used to conduct the evaluation, report its findings, and monitor patients' receipt of and response to interventions for any problems identified. This document provides recommendations on both evaluation content and process.

Psychosocial Risk Impacts Mortality in Women After Liver Transplantation.

Background: Liver transplant candidates undergo psychosocial assessment as a component of their pretransplant evaluation. Global psychosocial assessment scales, including the Psychosocial Assessment of Candidates for Transplantation (PACT), capture and quantify these psychiatric and social variables.

Objective: Our primary aim was to assess for an association between global PACT score and survival in liver transplant recipients.

Psychosocial Risk Predicts New Episode Depression After Heart Transplant.

Background: Psychosocial assessment is an essential component of the pretransplant evaluation. Many individuals have significant psychosocial problems, and they are either denied for transplantation or deferred from listing and transplant until the psychosocial issues are addressed.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients who initially had significant psychosocial problems, but who addressed them and received a heart transplant.

Impact of psychiatric comorbidities on outcomes of elderly liver transplant recipients.

Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of psychiatric comorbidities in liver transplant (LT) recipients aged ≥65 years (elderly) on length of hospital-stay (LOS), death, and a composite outcome of graft loss or death.

Methods: This retrospective study assessed impact of psychiatric comorbidities in 122 elderly LT recipients and a matched group of 122 LT recipients aged <65 years (younger). Associations were assessed using adjusted multivariable regression models.

The 2018 ISHLT/APM/AST/ICCAC/STSW recommendations for the psychosocial evaluation of adult cardiothoracic transplant candidates and candidates for long-term mechanical circulatory support.

The psychosocial evaluation is well-recognized as an important component of the multifaceted assessment process to determine candidacy for heart transplantation, lung transplantation, and long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS). However, there is no consensus-based set of recommendations for either the full range of psychosocial domains to be assessed during the evaluation, or the set of processes and procedures to be used to conduct the evaluation, report its findings, and monitor patients' receipt of and response to interventions for any problems identified. This document provides recommendations on both evaluation content and process.

Younger Adults Initiating Hemodialysis: Antidepressant Use for Depression Associated With Higher Health Care Utilization.

Objective: To examine associations between antidepressant use and health care utilization in young adults beginning maintenance hemodialysis (HD) therapy.

Patients And Methods: Antidepressant use, hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visits were examined in young adults (N=130; age, 18-44 years) initiating HD (from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2013) at a midwestern US institution. Primary outcomes included hospitalizations and ED visits during the first year.

The Psychosocial Assessment of Candidates for Transplantation: A Cohort Study of its Association With Survival Among Lung Transplant Recipients.

Background: The United Network for Organ Sharing mandates a psychosocial assessment of transplant candidates before listing. A quantified measure for determining transplant candidacy is the Psychosocial Assessment of Candidates for Transplant (PACT) scale. This instrument's predictive value for survival has not been rigorously evaluated among lung transplantation recipients.

The Chauvet 2014 Meeting Report: Psychiatric and Psychosocial Evaluation and Outcomes of Upper Extremity Grafted Patients.

Under the auspices for the International Society on Hand and Composite Tissue Allotransplantation, a section of The Transplantation Society (IHCTAS), a meeting was convened on March 21-22, 2014 in Paris to review the following areas that were deemed significant in the understanding of the psychosocial evaluation and outcomes of upper extremity transplant recipients: required domains of the evaluation, screening instruments, clinical monitoring pretransplant, clinical monitoring posttransplant, patient and team expectations, body image, psychiatric complications, functional goals and quality of life, ethics and media relations. Experts in the fields of psychiatry and psychology, transplantation, social work, ethics, and transplant administration met and reviewed center experiences and literature. The attendees highlighted the importance and the complexity of the psychiatric assessment in this field of transplantation.

Relationship of genetic variation in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) and congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases.

Recent reports have suggested an association between variation in the serotonin transporter and primary pulmonary hypertension and myocardial infarction. We set out to determine whether these associations were present in a population of patients who underwent SLC6A4 genotyping and to explore whether genetic variation in the serotonin transporter might be also associated with other cardiovascular functional and structural abnormalities. Included were 3473 patients who were genotyped for the SLC6A4 5HTTLPR polymorphism and a subset for rs25531 (n=816) and STin2 (n=819).