Psychological problems resulting from parent-to-adolescent renal transplantation

This paper deals with the ways in which the psychological responses of renal transplant donors and recipients interfere with the developmental tasks of adolescence. The characteristic responses of donors and recipients in general are briefly reviewed. The special problems of the adolescent who has received a transplant from a parent are considered. Interference with the separation-individuation process is discussed. Also considered is the difficulty posed to the development of sexual identity. Excerpts from brief therapy are presented that illustrate the characteristic psychological conflicts described.