Abstract
This study compared the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles of liver and heart transplant candidates with (n = 104) and without (n = 253) significant histories of heavy alcohol consumption. The alcohol and nonalcohol groups had similar overall mean profiles with significant or marginally significant (i.e., T ≥ 69) clinical elevations on Scales 1, 2, and 3. However, significantly higher proportions of those in the liver transplant group than in the heart transplant group scored within the clinical range on Scales F, 4, 6, and 8. In addition, the proportions of respondents obtaining clinically elevated scores were significantly higher for the alcohol than for the nonalcohol group on Scale 4 and the MacAndrew Scale; the proportion was higher for the nonalcohol than for the alcohol group on Scale K. The overall similarity of the mean profiles indicates that candidates for liver or heart transplantation with and without histories of heavy alcohol use generally display similar psychological presentations. The observed differences between the liver and the heart transplant groups may reflect impairments in mental status among liver transplant candidates due to metabolic consequences of liver disease. The differences between the alcohol and the nonalcohol groups may be more a reflection of past behavioral patterns than present psychological status.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Beresford, T. P. (1994). Psychiatric assessment of alcoholic candidates for liver transplantation. In M. R. Lucey, R. M. Merion, & T. P. Beresford (Eds.), Liver transplantation and the alcoholic patient: Medical, surgical and psychosocial issues (pp. 29-49). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Beresford, T. P., Schwartz, J., Wilson, D., Merion, R., & Lucey, M. R. (1992). The short-term psychological health of alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver transplant recipients. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 16, 996-1000.
Berlakovich, G. A., Steininger, R., Herbst, F. Barlan, M., Mittlbock, M., & Muhlbacher, F. (1994). Efficacy of liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis with respect to recidivism and compliance. Transplantation, 58, 560-565.
Bird, G. L. A., O'Grady, J. G., Harvey, F. A. H., Calne, R. Y., & Williams, R. (1990). Liver transplantation in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis: selection criteria and rates of survival and relapse. British Medical Journal, 301, 15-17.
Caplan, A. L. (1994). Ethics of casting the first stone: Personal responsibility, rationing, and transplants. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 18, 219-221.
Cohen, C., & Benjamin, M. (1991). Alcoholics and liver transplantation. Journal of the American Medical Association, 265, 1299-1301.
Greene, R. L. (1991). The MMPI-2/MMPI: An interpretive manual. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Kumar, S., Stauber, R. E., Gavaler, J. S., Basista, M. H., Dindzans, V. J., Schade, R. R., Rabinovitz, M., Tarter, R. E., Gordon, R., Starzl, T. E., & Van Thiel, D. H. (1990). Orthotopic liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease. Heptology, 11, 159-164.
Lake, J. R. (1993). Changing indications for liver transplantation. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, 22, 213-229.
Levenson, J. L., & Olbrisch, M. E. (1993). Psychosocial evaluation of organ transplant candidates: A comparative survey of process, criteria, and outcomes in heart, liver, and kidney transplantation. Psychosomatics, 34, 314-323.
Lucey, M. R. (1993). Liver transplantation for the alcoholic patient. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, 22, 243-256.
MacAndrew, C. (1965). The differentiation of male alcoholic out-patients from nonalcoholic psychiatric patients by means of the MMPI. Quarterly Journal of the Studies on Alcohol, 26, 238-246.
Merion, R. M. (1994). Outcome of liver transplantation for alcohol-related liver disease. In M. R. Lucey, R. M. Merion, & T. P. Beresford (Eds.), Liver transplantation and the alcoholic patient: Medical, surgical and psychosocial issues (pp. 80-96). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Moss, A. H., & Siegler, M. (1991). Should alcoholics compete equally for liver transplantation? Journal of the American Medical Association, 265, 1295-1298.
Olbrisch, M. E., & Levenson, J. L. (1995). Psychosocial assessment of organ transplant candidates: Current status of methodological and philosophical issues. Psychosomatics, 36, 236-243.
Scharschmidt, B. F. (1984). Human liver transplantation: Analysis of data on 540 patients from 4 centers. Heptology, 4, 95S-111S.
Sorrell, M. F., Zetterman, R. K., & Donovan, J. P. (1994). Alcoholic hepatitis and liver transplantation: The controversy continues. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 18, 222-223.
Starzl, T. E., Van Thiel, D., Tzakis, A. G., Iwatsuki, S., Todo, S., Marsh, J. W., Koneru, B., Staschak, S., Stieber, A., & Gordon, R. D. (1988). Orthotopic liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 260, 2542-2544.
Tripp, L. E., Clemons, J. R., Goldstein, R. R., & Stewart, L. M. (1996). Drinking patterns in liver transplant recipients. Psychosomatics, 37, 249-253.
Van Thiel, D. H., Bonet, H., Gavaler, J., & Wright, H. I. (1995). Effect of alcohol use on allograft rejection rates after liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 19, 1151-1155.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Durning, P.E., Perri, M.G., Rodrigue, J.R. et al. MMPI Profiles of Liver and Heart Transplant Candidates With and Without Significant Histories of Heavy Alcohol Use. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings 5, 35–47 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026201819088
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026201819088