2011 Volume 23 Issue 4 Pages 387-396
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between trait anxiety and psychological reactions among patients awaiting kidney transplant surgery. Participants included patients awaiting kidney transplant surgery at Kitasato University Hospital between December 2006 and September 2010. A total of 42 participants provided informed consent and underwent an interview with a psychologist. Participants were also asked to complete the STAI-Trait (STAI-T) anxiety scale and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Based on STAI-T scores, participants were divided into 2 groups based on whether their scores were higher than the median score of 43.5 or lower, and the interview answers were compared between the 2 groups. The HADS score of the high-trait anxiety group was significantly higher than that of the low-trait anxiety group. However, the interview answers were similar regardless of trait anxiety scores. Interview questions related to the degree of distress with respect to dialysis revealed that over 86% of participants experienced distress as a negative psychological reaction. The most frequent reason for feeling negative about dialysis in both groups was related to body constraints imposed by the procedure. Interview questions related to views of life after kidney transplant surgery revealed that over 71% of participants had positive psychological reactions and expected to live a fulfilling life after the surgery. The most frequent reason for feeling positive in both groups was related to liberation from dialysis. These results suggest that trait anxiety may influence the state anxiety and depression of patients awaiting kidney transplant surgery, whereas their interview answers regarding dialysis and views of life after the kidney transplant are independent of trait anxiety. Although anxiety and depression as reflected by STAI-T and HADS scores were higher in the high trait anxiety group, subjects voiced similar reasons for feeling negative about dialysis and were positive about life after kidney transplant surgery. That is, while trait anxiety correlated with differences in state anxiety and depression, it did not correlate with the interview answers. In other words, the findings suggest that for patients awaiting kidney transplantation there are differences in psychological reactions and in actual mental states. From the above results, for medical staff in contact with patients waiting for kidney transplants, it is necessary to perform a more detailed interview to be aware of patient anxiety and depression without the dialysis and transplant of patients.
