Receiving a liver transplant is a major life event that can be physically and emotionally challenging. During the first five years after transplantation, more than one in two liver transplant recipients experience a mental health disorder. These disorders may reduce adherence to treatment, increase the risk of graft rejection, impair quality of life, and, in some cases, increase the risk of death. Depression is the most common mental health disorder, affecting approximately one in four liver transplant recipients.
Survival after liver transplantation has improved considerably over recent decades. However, little is known about the long-term mental health of liver transplant recipients. Routine follow-up visits after transplantation play an important role by strengthening the relationship between patients and the healthcare team and by providing regular opportunities to assess mental well-being in addition to standard transplant follow-up, such as monitoring liver health, screening for cancer and cardiovascular disease, and managing treatment-related complications. These visits also help identify the need for additional support, such as addiction specialists, dietitians, or other healthcare professionals, and provide an opportunity to detect symptoms of depression, particularly in patients experiencing personal or family difficulties.
Beyond routine medical follow-up, there is a growing need to better understand mental health many years after liver transplantation. Learning from patients' experiences may help improve the early detection, prevention, and management of depression and other mental health disorders.
The primary objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms among adult liver transplant recipients who underwent transplantation more than five years ago.