Emotional Indicators in the Draw-a-Person Test of Transplanted Children

This study aims at examining the presence of emotional indicators in the Draw-A-Person Test (DAP), employing the Koppitz Scoring System, in transplanted and healthy children comparing them according to their gender. Forty-seven transplanted and 88 healthy children aged 5-12 completed the DAP and answered an interview about it. The T-test showed that male transplanted children presented more emotional indicators than male healthy children. Logistic regression analysis (LRA) demonstrated that 'poor integration of parts' indicator and DAP in the left side of the paper are typical characteristics of transplanted children. It seems that transplanted children, especially boys, are at higher risk to present psychological problems. A systematic evaluation of those patients is necessary to minimize emotional consequences due to chronic disease and organ transplantation in childhood.