Guidelines for Conducting a Psychiatric Evaluation of the Unrelated Kidney Donor

• Published in: Psychosomatics (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 44; no. 6; pp. 452 - 460
• Main Authors: Leo, Raphael J., Smith, Beth A., Mori, DeAnna L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Elsevier Inc 01.11.2003; American Psychiatric Press; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Female; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Medical sciences; Psychiatry - methods; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Techniques and methods; Tissue Donors - psychology; Human; Kidney disease; Evaluation; Urinary system disease; Liaison psychiatry; Unrelated donor; Psychometrics; Terminal stage; Transplantation; Homotransplantation; Recommendation; Case study; Psychiatric consultation; Treatment; Surgery; Directive interview; Mental disorder; Pretreatment; Predictive factor
• ISSN: 0033-3182; 1545-7206
• DOI: 10.1176/appi.psy.44.6.452

Living unrelated kidney donors have been increasingly sought out as potential resources for patients with end-stage renal disease. Several psychiatric issues must be factored into the presurgical evaluation of prospective donors. This paper describes a proposed guideline intended to assist clinicians in the psychiatric evaluation of prospective kidney donors. Topics covered in the interview include the prospective donor's stability and ability to make an informed decision, the donor's understanding of the recipient's illness and of the transplant surgery, and extenuating factors that may influence the decision to donate. While efficient and thorough, the guideline is intended to be flexible enough to address the variety of issues that can affect the prospective donor's decision to pursue surgery.