Vinod V. S1, Vijith Kumar K2, Shaji K. S3, Vinu Thomas4
BACKGROUND
Psychiatric illness like depression is common in chronic kidney disease patients. With this rising incidence of chronic kidney disease in Kerala, we need to determine the extent of problem and find appropriate strategy to manage these cases. The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of depression in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing haemodialysis, the proportion of patients getting treatment for depression, various factors influencing the prevalence of depression in the dialysis group and also to find out a bedside tool for assessing the prevalence of depression which can be used by the treating physician as well.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional observational prospective study conducted among 50 patients aged above 18 years undergoing haemodialysis. All underwent screening using Beck’s Depression Inventory Scale II and were simultaneously assessed for depression and confirmed by using diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders IV criteria, with the help of a psychiatrist.
STATISTICS ANALYSIS
Chi square test was applied to know the association between two categorical variables. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.
RESULTS
Out of 50 patients, 23 were found to have depression using Beck’s Depression inventory scale II as well as diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders IV criteria. Out of the 23 patients diagnosed to have depression with Beck’s Depression inventory scale II, only 3 patients (13%) were getting treatments for depression. Also depression was associated with hypoalbuminaemia, anaemia, hyponatraemia and hypocalcaemia.
CONCLUSION
Beck’s Depression Inventory scale was showing good correlation with diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders IV criteria diagnosis of depression and hence, it may also be used for screening depression, by the treating physician.
