The pediatric liver: Mental health considerations.

Mental health issues regarding pediatric persons with liver disease are discussed in this review. Considerable research has been accomplished with respect to liver transplantation that includes the key issue of medical adherence; considerations in this regard include psychological factors influencing adherence, identifying barriers to adherence, interventions to improve adherence, transition of care and adherence, measuring medical adherence, and the importance of pre-operative psychological screening. Issues of post-operative neuropsychological outcomes and hepatic encephalopathy are also reviewed. Cognitive dysfunction in those with liver disease and liver transplantation is also considered as well as such concerns as medical trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. Finally, mental health issues are also presented regarding children with Wilson's disease and hepatitis C virus infection as well as metabolic side-effects of psychotropic medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]