Heart transplantation: are there psychosocial predictors for clinical success of surgery?

50 adult patients were extensively psychosocially examined before undergoing heart transplantation. The data obtained and the clinical treatment data were compared with the clinical success of surgery (four groups ranging from excellent to unsatisfactory as determined by the surgeon one year after transplantation). Statistical evaluation by discriminant analysis resulted in the following predictors for successful surgery (all psychosocial): empathy, care and support by one partner (affective involvement), few demands for emotional communication (affective expression), self-control, ability to take stress, emotional stability, high frustration tolerance, low aggression level, and younger age. The following variables did not have predictive significance: schooling, occupation, social status, indication for transplantation, length of stay in intensive care and in hospital, extent of preoperative anxiety and depression, and the life-quality index according to Spitzer determined externally. The results show support by the partner to be the most significant psychosocial variable that can influence the clinical success of heart transplantation.