Mental Distress Symptoms and Life Satisfaction Among Living Kidney Donors: Frequency and Association With Subjective Evaluations

Abstract

The aims of this study were to (1) determine psychological states and wellbeing of living kidney donors and (2) assess their interaction and association with subjective evaluations of donors. This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted with 208 living kidney donors (123 women; 59.1%), aged between 22 and 79 years (48.74 ± 11.78) who underwent a nephrectomy between 2006 and 2017. All donors were evaluated face-to-face. the sociodemographic data collection form, a 4-question survey developed by researchers for subjective evaluations, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Contentment with Life Assessment Scale (CLAS) were administered. Only few donors, 3.8% and 7.2% respectively, were above the clinical cut off scores of the BDI and BAI. This was equivalent to the normal population. Eighty percent of respondents were satisfied with life. Only 5 donors (2.4%) claimed to have any regrets about their experience and scored higher for depression and lower for life satisfaction (P < .001). Similarly, 33 (15.9%) donors having thoughts of getting ill easily after the operation were found to be more depressive and anxious, with lower life satisfaction (P < .001). in most cases their relationship to the recipient was reported not to be changed (64.4%) or even improved (32.5%), and that was found to be related to lower depression scores (P < .001). Respondents within the first year of donation reported higher depression (P = .019) and lower life satisfaction (P = .001) scores. Finally, postoperative complications were found to increase anxiety and lower life satisfaction (P = .018, P = .026). Degree of affinity between donors and recipients showed no difference in postoperative psychological outcomes and life satisfaction. These results suggest that overall, living kidney donation does not have a negative impact on donors’ life satisfaction and mental status in the long term. However, the results of the unvalidated additional survey questions underlined the importance of follow-up of donors, especially in the first year, and screening of donors’ subjective experiences in gaining additional insight about donors' mental well-being. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.