Advancing Models of Care in Transplant Psychiatry: A Review and Considerations for Enhancing the Multidisciplinary Approach

Psychosocial considerations in transplant candidacy evaluation, waitlist, and post-transplant period is tremendously important to overall transplant care. Integration of mental health services in multidisciplinary transplant teams improves adherence to medical regimens, enhances quality of life, and reduces the risk of post-transplant complications.

Despite this, psychiatrists are often under-utilized by transplant centers, with engagement typically limited to transplant candidacy evaluations or reactive consults in a traditional CL model.

In this review, we aim to 1) highlight the relevance of psychiatry throughout the transplant course, 2) outline the role of a CL psychiatrist in advancing patient care and supporting multidisciplinary teams in transplant, 3) develop an understanding of CL service models in both the inpatient and ambulatory setting and 4) consider the utility of innovating current transplant psychiatry practices.