Antidepressant treatment increases quality of life in patients with chronic renal failure.

To evaluate the effect of citalopram treatment on quality of life (QoL) and depression in 141 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), QoL was measured by means of the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Patients diagnosed with depression were treated with citalopram for eight weeks and evaluated for the effect of treatment on depressive symptoms and QoL. Thirty-four of 141 patients (24.1%) had depression and treatment with citalopram decreased Beck Depression Inventory Scores and increased the emotional role limitation and the mental health subscale scores of SF-36. This study suggests that citalopram can treat depression and improve QoL in patients with CRF.

Association of depression with markers of nutrition and inflammation in chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Depression, which is the most common psychological disorder among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is commonly associated with poor oral intake which can aggravate anemia and malnutrition in chronic dialysis patients. The objective of this study is to explore the association between depression and C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, serum albumin and hemoglobin/hematocrit in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESRD. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients on hemodialysis (HD), 47 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and 26 patients with CKD on conservative management were enrolled in this study. All patients were evaluated for the presence of depression using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Axis I Disorders-Clinician Version (SCID-CV). The severity of depression was evaluated by means of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Serum CRP (nephelometric method), ferritin (immunometric method), albumin (bromcresol green technique), hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were measured. RESULTS: A total of 34 of 141 patients (24.1%) had depression. The mean BDI score was higher in depressive patients compared to nondepressive patients. In HD patients the frequency of depression and CRP and ferritin levels were higher than in other groups. Patients with depression had lower hemoglobin, hematocrit and serum albumin levels and higher CRP and ferritin levels than patients without depression. The BDI score showed a positive correlation with serum CRP and ferritin levels, but a negative correlation with the serum albumin level. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that CKD and ESRD patients with anemia, hypoalbuminemia and higher serum CRP and ferritin concentrations should be evaluated for depression after potential somatic causes have been eliminated.