The social and emotional impact of cardiac transplantation.

To date, there has been limited systematic research in the area of the emotional impact of cardiac transplantation. Since September 1984, a prospective study addressing this issue has been in progress at St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Initial results suggest that anxiety, associated with declining health and adjustment to the prospect of transplantation, was the major issue at pre-transplantation. Follow-up at the time of their first hospital discharge after transplantation and again at 3 months showed improvement in all psychological measures and did not identify any psychological morbidity.