Evidence mapPaperPMID 41488941Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2025

A systematic review of the effectiveness of psychological interventions in organ transplantation.

Concetta De Pasquale, Maria Luisa Pistorio, Alberto Sardella, Massimiliano Veroux, Vittorio Lenzo, Micol Di Bella, Flavia Coco, Giuseppa Maria Stella Catania, Antonino Grasso, Alessia Giaquinta and 2 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. The Critical Role of Mental Health Specialists in Organ Transplantation Teams: An ELPAT Position Statement.Transplant international : official journal of the European Society for Organ Transplantation · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Concetta De Pasquale *Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Maria Luisa Pistorio *Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Alberto SardellaDepartment of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Massimiliano VerouxOrgan Transplant Unit, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Vittorio LenzoDepartment of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Micol Di BellaDepartment of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Flavia CocoDepartment of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Giuseppa Maria Stella CataniaUnit of Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Antonino GrassoVascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Alessia GiaquintaVascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Maria Catena Ausilia QuattropaniVascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Pierfrancesco VerouxVascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Organ transplantation profoundly affects not only patients' physical health but also their psychological, emotional, and social well-being. Psychological interventions may support treatment adherence, emotional adjustment, and quality of life, yet the existing literature remains fragmented and methodologically heterogeneous. Objectives: This systematic review aimed to examine the available evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions in solid organ transplant recipients, with particular attention to outcomes related to anxiety, depression, stress, adherence, and quality of life. Methods: Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and with the protocol registered on PROSPERO (ID 1165280), a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria targeted studies involving adult solid organ transplant recipients receiving validated psychological or psychosocial interventions. Twenty-four studies met the eligibility criteria. Data extraction included demographic characteristics, organ type, psychological outcomes, intervention type, and duration. Relevant data, including quantitative findings and effect sizes where available, were extracted and synthesized. Results: The included studies revealed a heterogeneous yet coherent body of evidence supporting the relevance of psychological interventions in transplant care. Various approaches-including cognitive-behavioral, psychoeducational, mindfulness-based, expressive, and psychodynamic interventions-were associated, to different extents, with improvements in emotional well-being, adherence, and quality of life. The diversity of designs and outcomes, however, limits direct comparisons and precludes firm conclusions about relative effectiveness. Conclusion: Psychological interventions represent a key component of comprehensive transplant care, contributing to patients' emotional adjustment, adherence, and overall quality of life. Nonetheless, current evidence is constrained by small sample sizes, methodological heterogeneity, and short follow-ups. Future research should prioritize multicenter and longitudinal studies using standardized psychological and clinical outcomes, in order to strengthen the current evidence base and support the systematic integration of psychological interventions into transplant care. Systematic review registration: Identifier PROSPERO (ID1165280).

Indexed as

clinical psychologymental healthorgan transplantationpsychological interventionsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41488941
PMCPMC12757243

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.