ABSTRACT
Depression and anxiety are among the principal manifestations of chronic illness and play a central role in patients' experience with life-limiting disease. Chronic renal insufficiency is a clinical condition with a huge impact on patient quality of life. Hemodialysis patients must confront the burdens of long-term illness and numerous treatment-associated stressors. The purpose of this study was to determine the depression and anxiety in chronic haemodialysis patients. This descriptive survey performed at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences during the year 2007. A total of 150 patients regularly treated with hemodialysis were chosen through sensor sampling. This study was approved by the local committee of Medical Ethics. Depression was measured using CES-D [The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale] and anxiety was studied by Eshpil Berger standard questionnaire. Data analyzed by SPSS software. This study revealed that prevalence of depression was 64.5 percent in hemodialysis patients [Cut-off value was 16]. This group had 51.4 percent prevalence of State Anxiety and 49.0 percent of Trait Anxiety. Statistical analysis demonstrated that there was a meaningful correlation between depression and history of grail failure [p<0.04], dialysis duration [p<0.01], family income [p<0.001] and working status [p<0.002]. However, there was no significant correlation between depression scales and demographic factors including age, gender, frequency of dialysis and marital status. Our study showed that a substantial number of hemodialysis patients experienced depression and anxiety. Regarding this problem, necessity for having consulting and psychotherapy center in hemodialysis ward is emphasized