Abstract
Mental health in relatives of transplant patients. The aim of this investigation is to analyse the influence of the place of hospitalization (Intensive Care Unit or Transplant Unit), the mental health (anxiety and depression symptoms) and the duration of stay in hospital (little or a long time) of transplant patients on symptoms of anxiety and depression exhibited by close relatives of transplant patients. The subject groups were made up of 166 transplant patients and 148 close relatives. The tests applied were a "Psychological Questionnaire" (both groups), "The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale" (transplant patients) and "The Leeds Scales for the Self-Assessment of Anxiety and Depression" (relatives). The results showed that relatives exhibited more symptoms of anxiety and depression: when the transplant patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, they showed high scores of anxiety and depression in the Transplant Unit and were in this unit for a long period.
