Family Noncommunication: The Search for Kidney Donors

Abstract

Intensive study of the family communication patterns in the search for a kidney transplant donor revealed that, in a significant number of cases, communication is effectively blocked. The authors followed 83 transplant patients and their families throughout the pretransplant stage and for three weeks after the transplant. Although the noncommunication pattern appears to be maladaptive and rather stressful prior to the transplant, it seems to be beneficial for family cohesion in the period after a successful transplant.