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Norouzali S, Bahmani B, Azkhosh M, Abdi K, Khanjani M S, Najafizadeh K et al . Psychological Effects of Meeting Between Organ Donor Families and Recipients: A Systematic Review. , IJPCP. 2026; 32 (1)
URL: http://ijpcp.iums.ac.ir/article-1-4410-en.html

Objectives Organ transplantation is a relatively new and rapidly advancing treatment method, which refers to the transfer of organs from a brain-dead person (donor) to a person in need of an organ (recipient). Organ donation or transplantation has significant psychological effects on both donor families and recipients. This study aims to systematically review the psychological effects of meetings between organ donor families and recipients. 
Methods This is a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. We searched international (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science) and national (Magiran, Scientific Information Database (SID)) databases for relevant studies published from 1980 to December 2022. The quality of studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool for qualitative studies, and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for quantitative studies. Out of 1,464 retrieved records, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria.
Results The findings revealed that meeting between donor families and recipients is a multifaceted phenomenon with both positive psychological outcomes (such as reduced ambiguity, facilitated grieving processes for donor families, and recipients’ opportunities for expressing gratitude) and negative outcomes (such as emotional dependency, fear of secondary loss among donor families, and feelings of guilt among recipients). Notably, most included studies were conducted in Western countries. The protocols for such meetings remain ill-defined in many regions, and no comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines currently exist to address the psychological ramifications of these interactions.
Conclusion Establishing comprehensive guidelines for meetings between organ donor families and recipients that prioritize their confidentiality, autonomy, and informed consent is important. Given the profound influence of cultural and religious norms on psychological outcomes of such meetings, further research in Eastern countries and Muslim societies is recommended to develop culturally adapted protocols. Additionally, longitudinal studies are recommended to elucidate the long-term psychological outcomes of such meetings.