Heartfelt Transformations: An Exploratory Study of Self-Reported Personality Changes Following Heart Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Heart transplantation is a life-saving procedure with well-documented physiological outcomes. However, its psychosocial implications, particularly personality changes, remain underexplored. This study aims to explore post-transplant personality changes in heart recipients and possible contributing factors. METHODS: 19 heart transplant recipients were interviewed via semi-structured video calls. Interviews focused on changes in personality traits, emotions, preferences, spirituality, and selfawareness. Thematic analysis and quantitative coding were used to identify recurring patterns. Statistical tests were applied to evaluate potential correlations with donor-recipient variables. RESULTS: 17 of 19 recipients reported at least one personality change. Common themes included increased empathy, altered food preferences, aversion to meat, heightened spirituality, and greater motivation. Female recipients and those with a donor of the opposite gender or a >10-year age gap experienced more changes on average. The age gap effect was statistically significant (p = 0.00098). Emotional changes were the most frequently reported domain. DISCUSSION: This study highlights the prevalence and complexity of personality changes following heart transplantation. These findings suggest that heart transplants may influence recipient identity beyond physiological recovery. CONCLUSION: These findings are exploratory and intended to generate hypotheses for future controlled studies. Greater awareness of this phenomenon can improve post-transplant care and patient well-being.