Positive Psychology Intervention to Improve Recovery after Renal Transplantation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

There is an increasing body of evidence proving that transplanted patients’ perceptions of their disease and their emotional state may have an influence on their physical recovery, but there are relatively few psychological interventions specifically developed to support their healing process. The aim of our study was to explore the effectiveness of a positive psychology intervention programme on the pre- and postoperative psychological state of kidney transplant patients. Clinical trial registration number: NEP-PSZICH-001, 13.15.2014. A total of 40 kidney transplant patients were assessed using the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory, Beck’s Depression Inventory, Transplanted Organ Questionnaire, Brief Illness Questionnaire and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory during a 1-year follow-up. Medical parameters were collected throughout the 1-year period after transplantation. Compared to the control group, patients in the intervention group had lower anxiety and depression, and higher Posttraumatic Growth scores, and they had shown more positive attitude toward the transplant and their illness. We consider it as our most outstanding result that the estimated glomerular filtration rate and serum creatinine levels were significantly better among patients receiving positive psychology intervention, both after 6 months and after one year following their kidney transplantation. The findings show that mental functioning and general well-being of kidney transplant patients improved after our positive psychology intervention programme, and these improvements were also associated with better kidney functions in the long run.