Organ transplantation is an essential element of treatment for a wide range of diseases, but despite increasing surgical success rates there remain many other issues affecting selection of patients and clinical outcome with which clinicians and patients themselves must be familiar. Originally published in 2000, this book reviews psychosocial, psychiatric and ethical aspects of organ transplantation in a uniquely authoritative way. Drawing heavily on the pioneering work of the Pittsburgh transplant team, it surveys the essentials of transplantation biology before engaging with a range of topics fundamental to the success of the procedure and the quality of life of recipients and donors alike. The interdisciplinary approach and the authority of the contributors will make this book of value to anyone with an interest in organ transplantation procedures.

Over the past forty years transplantation has developed from a laboratory based experimental procedure to a clinical commonplace. Transplantation raises issues of patient screening and selection, quality of life for recipients, living donors and their families, cognitive changes associated with transplantation, ethical considerations, and the impact of immunological and pharmacological changes associated with the procedure. This complex of issues affects clinicians from a wide range of disciplines and is the focus of consultation-liaison psychiatry and this book. Pittsburgh, where many of the contributors are based, was and is still a pioneering center for organ transplantation. Dr. Thomas Starzl, who gives an overview of the field, is one of the founding fathers of transplantation surgery.

Psychosomatic Medicine (PM) is a rapidly developing subspecialty of psychiatry focusing on psychiatric care of patients with other medical disorders. PM specialists diagnose and manage psychiatric symptoms in a variety of medical settings, optimize their patients' medical care, and expand understanding regarding the role of psychological factors in health and disease. Dr. Kurt Ackerman and Dr. Andrea DiMartini presernt Psychosomatic Medicine , portable handbook geared to helping psychiatric and other medical practitioners and trainees to stay current in their understanding of the practice of psychosomatic medicine. Drawing practical techniques and wisdom from their team of contributors, Psychosomatic Medicine provides readers with historical background, key clinical information and guidelines, readily accessible charts and tables, exercises to aid in self-assestment, and suggestions for further reading to spark additional learning in this rapidly developing field of psychiatry.