[Psychometric evaluation of the psychoemotional stability in patients considered suitable for heart transplant].

The main purpose of this study was to make an objective assessment of emotional stability as a selection criterion in 14 heart transplant candidates (13 M, 1 F, 45.5 +/- 6.6 years). A psychometric study was conducted using Cognitive Behavioral Assessment (CBA 2.0 Primary-Scale Battery) and the Beck Depression Inventory. The main results of this study were the identification of: a) emotionally unstable patients (42%) who did not respond to the above mentioned selection criterion; b) stable psychological traits such as hostility, aloofness, extroversion as described in type A Behavior Pattern and c) the presence of secondary alexitimic responses suggesting a protective denial of the meaning of the disease. The psychometric method used seems useful in the selection of heart transplant candidates, however, a follow-up can better define the range of emotional stability.