From other long-term and potentially life-threatening medical conditions such as breast cancer, the patients' husbands/wives, or spouses are often the primary source of (social) support and of central importance with regard to treatment-related decisions. Thus, spouses are important agents in the course of treatment but are also under considerable (additional) strain. Most studies on psychosocial outcomes of organ transplantation have focused on either patients or spouses. However, medical, social, and psychological aspects influence transplantation outcomes and patients' as well as spouses functioning in complex interaction and should be investigated accordingly.