THE PSYCHIATRIC-ASSESSMENT OF LIVER-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLIC LIVER-DISEASE - A REVIEW

Patients with severe alcoholic liver disease are receiving liver trans plants in increasing numbers. Alcoholic liver transplant patients appe ar to have a good prognosis, yet alcoholic candidates may be rejected on psychiatric grounds alone. The role of the psychiatrist in the mult idisciplinary assessment is discussed and the use of a number of predi ctors of outcome for alcoholic candidates considered. Studies examinin g these variables have many methodological limitations and it is there fore very difficult to draw any firm conclusions on their validity or reliability. Long-term prospective studies using appropriate measures of outcome should enable the liaison psychiatrist to provide more usef ul advice on the psychosocial outcome and treatment requirements of th is growing group of patients.