OBJECTIVES: Screening of depression in dialysis patients

METHODS: It is a prospective study conducted in Bangalore Baptist hospital at hemodialysis unit for over six months. All patient getting regular hemodialysis for more than three months were included. Beck’s Depression Inventory- II was administered on all the patients who were able to read or understand it. Blood sample were drawn at the same time for routine haematological and biochemical parameters . Diagnosis was made as per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM IV) for correlation of psychological variables with clinical, hematological and biochemical parameters.

RESULTS: Fifty patients were enrolled which included 35 individuals were male and 36 individuals were married. Major causes of renal failure were diabetes, hypertension and chronic glomerulonephrotis . Duration of dialysis was for six months. Severity of depression was categorized in to mild, moderate and severe of the basis of BDI score. Among the 50 patients that participated in the study 30% are found to be normal.16% suffered with a mild mood swing.20% experienced borderline depression and the ones with moderate depression were 20%. Severe depression was found to be 8% and 4% experienced with extreme depression. Among these patients none of them were treated for depression. Gender differences was seen in depression aspect where, males were more depressed (74.28%) than female (60%).

CONCLUSIONS: Majority of patients undergoing hemodialysis were depressed. Major risk factors for depression were marital status, illiteracy, number of children, socioeconomic factors, gender, hypertension and hypoalbuminemia. Patients with anemia, hyponatremia and hyperkalemia had suicidal tendency. The most common symptoms of depression experienced by the patients were lack of appetite, sleep disturbances, irritation, fatigue, loss of interest in sex ,loss of energy.