Preoperative evaluation of the body concept of donors and recipients of living kidney donations

The psychosocial evaluation of the body concept of living kidney donors and recipients is part of a general psychosocial assessment as well as the early detection of organ integration disorders. From 2010 to 2011 we investigated the eligibility for living kidney donation in 36 living kidney donors and 36 recipients using a semistructured clinical interview and the German version of the Transplant Evaluation Rating Scale (TERS). In addition, we used the Fragebogen zum Körperbild (FKB-20) to evaluate body concept. Living kidney donors and recipients differed in their body concept. Living kidney recipients described a body-centered disturbance stemming from a reduction of body-intensive activities including destabilization of body concept. The psychological coping process involved in living kidney donation demands a reconstitution of the body self. The coping/health behavior and the affective state of living kidney recipients are protective factors that influence successful organ integration.