Psychiatric comorbidity in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Background: Patients undergoing hemodialysis are under considerable physical and mental stress. Few studies indicate an increase of psychiatric morbidity in them.

Aim: The aim is to study the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Materials and Methods: A total of 49 consecutive patients of chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis were included in the study with their consent. The Institute Ethics Committee clearance was obtained before the start of the study. The psychiatric interview was conducted only after the dialysis procedure was over. Patients were assessed using the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and Hamilton rating scale for depression.

Results: A total of 49 patients in the age range of 15-64 years were included in the study. Majority of the sample was males (75.5%). Out of the patients enrolled in the study group, 45% had psychiatric comorbidity which included depression (26%), adjustment disorder (12.2%), generalized anxiety disorder (2%), mixed anxiety and depression (2%), and mental and behavioral disorders due to harmful use of alcohol (2%) indicating that patients undergoing hemodialysis is more likely to have mood disorder than other psychiatric disorders.

Conclusion: Patients with recent-onset dialysis are more prone to psychiatric illnesses as it has a chronic debilitating course with poor outcome leading to major lifestyle changes with occupational disturbance and consequent financial implication.