Post-traumatic stress disorder and positive psychological changes in persons after heart transplantation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Heart transplantation has become a widely used method of treatment for end-stage heart failure. The process of transplantation begins with the proposal of the procedure and continues long after the operation. This process is accompanied by psychological distress. Most previous psychosocial studies focused on the negative consequences. Positive effects have received little attention. The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationships between the negative and positive outcomes of positive life events.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-six persons (age M = 40,12 ± 17,78 years, 53,2% men) after heart transplantation completed the standardized instruments. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was assessed using the Impact Events Scale — IES-R, Post-traumatic growth (PTG) was measured by the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory — PTGI.

RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of the sample endorsed the criteria for psychometric diagnosis of PTSD. Indicator global PTG (M = 88,65 ± 15,02) significantly exceeded the level observed in other studies of traumatic events. Age, sex, education were not significantly associated with negative and positive changes after heart transplantation, with the exception of the time since transplant, short — with higher PTSD, longer — with more PTG. Correlation between post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic growth was greater when distress in the peritransplant period was perceived as low. The observed structure PTG suggest that a heart transplantation may uniquely foster positive psychological change.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study express the doubts if posttraumatic growth actually mirrors genuine growth. Life events that are treated as a challenge and not a threat which enhance positive emotions can foster personal development termed as postecstatic growth.