BACKGROUND: The presence of an allogeneic graft inside the body may have psychological impact on transplant patients. It was the aim of this study to evaluate the attitude of patients before and after different types of organ transplantation towards organ allografts. METHODS: A total of 1,049 patients (722 patients after and 327 patients on the waiting list for either kidney, liver, heart, or lung transplantation) under care of a single transplant center were studied using a questionnaire with blinded analysis of the data. Mental condition of the patients, their attitude towards the allograft and its donor, emotional stress caused by a graft, and correlation of the attitudes with clinical and demographic parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The self-reported mental condition of the patients was markedly and consistently better after organ transplantation; 27% of patients before and 60% after transplantation were in good mental condition. Sixty-two percent of transplant patients considered the graft as their own organ, 37% regarded it as a foreign organ now belonging to their body, and 1% considered it as a foreign body; among waiting list patients, 40%, 55%, and 5% assumed they would perceive their graft accordingly. The graft caused considerable emotional stress for 2% of transplant patients, whereas for 70% it did not cause any stress; the latter was assumed by 47% of patients before transplantation. Eleven percent of transplant patients frequently think about the origin of their graft, and 30% would like to have information about their donor. Knowledge about different religion, opposite sex, homosexuality, suicidal death, and age above 65 years of their donor would be of moderate or major concern for 0%, 3%, 21%, 24%, and 38% of the patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive survey shows that transplant patients incorporate their graft well into their body image. Emotional stress caused by the graft is very low and is generally less than assumed before transplantation. Knowledge about certain characteristics of the donor may cause increased concerns in some patients.
