Psychosocial Function After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

The authors report on a prospective cohort study of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The purpose was to evaluate the progression of quality of life and mood, as well as patterns of alcohol consumption, a behavior with potential adverse health consequences. Of the 84 subjects who completed serial measures and other interviews at admission for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and 6-month follow-up, 75 provided data 12 months later. The main findings of this study were that quality of life improves, measures of depressive symptoms decline, and patients drink less alcohol overall. Time was the most important variable accounting for these changes.