Psychiatric Morbidity among Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis - A Cross-Sectional Study at Government Medical College, Kottayam

Abstract

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health issue to be discussed in this current era due to its increasing prevalence. The burden due to chronic kidney disease is very high especially in low and middle income countries. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity is high in patients undergoing haemodialysis. The presence of psychiatric illness increases the risk of hospitalisation and mortality in patients with end stage renal disease. This study was conducted to assess the psychiatric morbidity of patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance haemodialysis. METHODS Descriptive research design was used for the study. The sample of the study consisted of 180 patients above the age of 18 years with chronic kidney disease undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. A specially designed pro-forma, ICD 10 symptoms check list, and ICD 10 diagnostic criteria for research are the tools used for the study. RESULTS Most of the patients were from 41 - 50 years age group (27.8 %) with a mean age of 47.43 and majority were males (74.4 %). 45.6 % patients had plan for renal transplant and 62.2 % patients were on twice weekly haemodialysis. The primary diagnosis was chronic glomerulonephritis in 33.9 % and diabetic nephropathy in 32.8 % of study participants. 11.7 % of study participants had IgA nephropathy and 9.4 % of study participants had ischemic renal failure. 23.9% of participants were found to have psychiatric morbidity. The most common psychiatric illness was depression which was reported in 15.0 % of study population. 6.1 % of participants had adjustment disorder, 2.2 % had anxiety disorder and 0.6 % had psychosis. The mean duration of dialysis was 2 years in patients with psychiatric illness. CONCLUSIONS A male preponderance was found in the study population. High psychiatric morbidity is found among patients undergoing haemodialysis and depression is the most common psychiatric disorder identified. KEYWORDS Psychiatric Morbidity, Haemodialysis