Longitudinal Assessment of Psychological Functioning in Children After Heart or Heart-Lung Transplantation

A number of pediatric patients continue to have psychological difficulties 3 years after transplant. Initial diagnosis is an important factor in post-transplant psychological functioning, with a diagnosis of CHD appearing to be a risk factor for greater psychological morbidity, at least in the short and medium term. Further follow-up must address whether such differences persist in the longer term. Patients at risk for poorer psychological outcome need to be identified so that interventions can be implemented to reduce psychological morbidity.