Relationship between coping and depression in heart transplant candidates and their spouses

Abstract

Heart transplant candidate depression may follow spousal disengagement, or, conversely, a spouse may disengage in response to the patient becoming depressed. Identification during the pretransplant evaluation of those spouses who cope using behavioral disengagement might be a first step in the process of assessment and intervention. Clinical interventions may need to focus on the spouse as well as on the transplant candidate.