Neurocognitive and Emotional Functioning in Lung Transplant Candidates: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

This study reports descriptive data on the neurocognitive and emotional functioning of a clinical series of 39 lung transplant candidates. Results found this group to be of average intelligence, with average simple attention and concentration. Candidates displayed mild to moderate psychomotor slowing, moderate dysnomia, and mild verbal memory and learning deficits. Relative to available normative data, 39% of the patients demonstrated performance deficits at or below three standard deviations from the mean on two or more neurocognitive test variables. Cluster analysis of MMPIs identified three groups: Cluster 1 consisted of 26% of the sample, with significant elevations on scales 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 suggestive of clinically significant levels of emotional distress; Cluster 2 consisted of 39% of the sample, with significant elevations on scales 1, 2, and 3 suggestive of moderate somatic concerns and mild emotional disruption; Cluster 3 consisted of 35% of the sample, with no significant MMPI scale elevations. Nearly one-third of the sample obtained MMPI F-K scores suggestive of a “fake-good” response set. Neurocognitive test performance and MMPI scales were only minimally related, suggesting that emotional disruption cannot be used as an explanation for neurocognitive deficits in this sample.