The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
Site maintenance Monday, July 8th, 2024. Please note that access to some content and account information will be unavailable on this date.
No Access

Graft and donor denial in heart transplant recipients

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.143.9.1159

Eighteen of 20 survivors of a heart transplant used denial as a coping mechanism. In seven of the subjects, denial was expressed toward the graft, in five it was toward the donor, and in six it was toward both. Other feelings expressed at the time of discharge were euphoria, gratitude, curiosity, ambivalence, guilt, anxiety, and a feeling of a change in body image. The author suggests that denial serves a protective and adaptive function in heart transplant recipients.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.