Post-Transplant PTSD: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Gaps in Current Literature – A Systematic Review

Post-transplant PTSD is a poorly researched but essential component of transplantation outcomes, bearing substantial consequences for patient recovery and quality of life. This systematic review synthesizes existing literature to examine the prevalence, symptomatology, and diagnostic challenges of PTSD in transplant recipients, while also evaluating current treatment approaches and identifying gaps in research. We examine hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation as an especially high-risk setting, investigating the relationship between psychological distress, psychosocial factors, and long-term emotional outcomes for both patients and their families. The approach consisted of an extensive search and strict selection procedure to identify pertinent studies, subsequently subjected to thematic analysis to answer the research questions. Research shows PTSD symptoms are common in transplant recipients, frequently appearing as hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, and avoidance behaviors, but diagnosis is inconsistent because symptoms overlap with physiological conditions after transplantation. Psychosocial stressors, such as extended hospital stays and anxiety about rejection, intensify psychological distress, and relatives often experience secondary trauma. Treatment strategies are limited, with cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy showing moderate efficacy but lacking tailored protocols for transplant populations. The review identifies a lack of long-term research and uniform assessment methods, which emphasizes the necessity for focused strategies and collaborative healthcare approaches. The synthesis of these findings seeks to shape clinical practice and direct subsequent studies to tackle the unresolved mental health requirements of transplant patients.