Psychological Issues

1. POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER(PTSD) AND TRANSPLANTS.

Below is an article that I found reference to. It says that parents who have had a child with a solid organ transplant were more likely to suffer from PTSD with over half of the people interviewed say that they suffered symptoms of it.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/111/6/e725.full

2. LEARNING ISSUES FOR LIVER KIDS

This article has proved useful for some children. It was generated from a psychological assessment. The issues that were recogonised were subtle.

IT IS NOT RELEVANT FOR ALL CHILDREN

‘Research has indicated that children with biliary atresia or other liver diseases often have neuro-cognitive difficulties pre and post liver transplant(Caudle et al 2010 Note 1). Research by Caudle et al 2010 indicated that young children (<2 years) with biliary atresia may experience significant delays in gross motor and language skills whereas fine motor visual reasoning skills were relatively preserved. Similarly Wayman et al 1997 found young children (<2 years) with biliary atresia before transplantation scored in the low-average range for mental developement with psychomotor developement 1 SD below the norm.

Ominously these difficulties can mistakenly be percieved as ‘laziness’ or not trying to complete the task. It is important that the difficulties are not perceived as such as this may impact on the childs self esteem and self concept. 

Note 1:  Caudle, SE, Katzenstein, JM, Karpen, S, & McLin, V. (2010). Gross motor and expressive language delays in infants with biliary atresia. Journal of Pediatrics, 156(6), 936-41.)

Should you notice that there are changes in your childs memory, learning, behavior, their social interaction or emotional function mention it to the consultant or contact the clinical liver nurse.  See psychological issues.