The ‘feeling of being unsafe’ after a lung transplant: Aetiological considerations and psychotherapeutic intervention tools

Abstract

After a lung transplant, a psychological crisis may occur which is frequently expressed in panic-like states of anxiety. Above all, patients are afraid that the new lung won't work. This paper links the anxiety with an existential emotional insecurity (‘the feeling of being unsafe’). Although triggered by the lung transplant, this insecurity can be aggravated by previous traumatic psychological experiences that result in unsafe internal object relationships. In two case studies, the differing psychological susceptibility of the patients is demonstrated and the use of various psychotherapeutic interventions for helping patients to successfully overcome the post-operative crisis is discussed.

Keywords:

• Lung transplant
• respiratory distress
• crisis
• feeling of safety
• object relationships
• trauma