[Psychological Assessment of a sample of women with ADPKD: quality of life, body image, anxiety and depression].

INTRODUCTION: The Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a chronic renal disease that has not yet been the subject of psychological research. There are only a few studies related to the consequences and complications of this pathology on female patients, although women affected by this disease present serious problems. AIM: The purpose of this study is to perform a psychological assessment (quality of life, anxiety, depression, body image) on a sample of 37 women with ADPKD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The assessment is based on ad hoc social and personal record, KDQOL-SF (to evaluate health-related quality of life), HADS (for anxiety and depression) and BUT (for perceived body image). This assessment is administrated in a specific outpatient clinic. RESULTS: Results show that kidney disease has a negative impact on health-related quality of life. Concerns about body image are linked to anxious and depressive symptomatology: an increase in these concerns is related to a worsening of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients. Moreover, a higher psychological malaise emerges in hypertensive ADPKD patients, in terms of mood and quality of life, compared to those without this concomitant pathology. Finally, it is important to note that social support, real or perceived, is of paramount importance in maintaining psychological well-being. CONCLUSIONS: The psychological evaluation of ADPKD patients can be used in clinical practice as a supplemental model in multidisciplinary Nephrology team.

[Quality of life, anxiety and distress in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease: pre-dialysis and start of dialytic treatment]. / Qualità di vita, ansia e distress nei pazienti affetti da malattia renale cronica: predialisi ed inizio del trattamento dialitico.

The psychological impact of the Chronic Kidney Disease is well known and several factors contribute to a reduction of quality of life, increase of anxiety levels and psychological distress for affected patients. Psychological intervention is becoming ever more consolidating within the Departments of Nephrology. Nevertheless, literature is lacking about the psychological intervention specificity, especially concerning the dialysis and pre-dialysis phase. The purpose of the study is to identify the mainly critical periods for the dialysed patients in terms of anxiety and distress and to examine the impact of medical management in pre-dialysis period on life quality. In this multi-centre study the sample was collected in three Dialysis Centres: the IRCCS San Raffaele, the IRCCS Multimedica and the A.O. Fatebenefratelli. The instruments used were KDQOL-SF, specific for the dialysed patient's quality of life, PDI, for the distress evaluation and STAI, for anxiety evaluation. The data showed the presence of a more severe psychological unease at the beginning of haemodialysis therapy and a better perception of the life quality for those who have received the medical adoption during the pre-dialysis phase than who did not have it. From a psychological point of view, these results highlight the importance of taking charge the patients in a pre-dialysis phase and of structuring specific psychological interventions during the initial period of substitution therapy.