PSYCHIATRIC ASPECTS OF LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

Psychiatry plays an essential role in the selection and preoperative c are of liver transplant patients. Unique to liver transplantation are the preponderance of candidates with alcoholic end-stage organ failure and also the reversibility of encephalopathy with postoperative norma lization of hepatic function. The expense of liver transplantation nec essitates documentation of quality of life among recipients. It can al so be postulated that a ''ripple effect'' does occur, in which favorab le operative outcomes provide a meaningful and beneficial effect on so cial networks of transplant candidates and on society in general.