524 Cognitive Abilities, Quality of Life and Psychosocial Burden in Livertransplanted Children and Their Families. The Project Live!R

Abstract

PURPOSE: For children and adolescents there is a risk to develop pervasive developmental disorders and secondary comorbidities before and after transplantation. The project Live! aims at establishing a comprehensive psychosocial medical care and consultation for children and adolescents as well as their families. METHOD: Since 2007 168 families were assessed. Results concerning the quality of life (KIDSCREEN 52), cognitive variables (Hamburg Wechsler intelligence test for children, HAWIK; Testbattery for Attentional Performance for children, KITAP), psychopathology (Schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school age children, Kiddie-SADS), and the burden of the family (questionnaire to assess family burden, FABEL) will be presented. RESULTS: At the time of transplantation, the mean age of the children (gender was balanced) was 2.7 (SD=3.2). In average, they were examined 8.3 (SD=4.5) years after transplantation. The major indication was biliary atresia (55%); 37% of the patients received a living donation. Despite there is a significant higher quality of life in children after transplantation compared to the norm, 49 % of the sample show psychological disorders (e.g. enuresis 34%, adjustment disorder 24%, etc.) and cognitive abilities below average. Moreover, families with transplanted children are highly under psychological pressure. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that there is an urgent need for psychological support for these families and in addition, there is a strong demand for early developmental screening for children with liver transplantation to enhance integration in school and their further working life