Revista Internacional de Psicologia Escolar e Cognitiva
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Depression Doubles Mortality Risk among Transplant Recipients

Kamran F

Renal transplantation is the best available treatment for patients with kidney failure, but recipients have been shown to develop emotional distress and affective disorders, such as anxiety and depression, associated with a compromised quality of life (QoL). Depression is associated with impaired QoL and increased morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Research has confirmed that depression may worsen kidney transplant outcome. Dobbles et al. reported in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (2008), that depression is considered as a high risk factor for kidney failure, return to dialysis and death among the studied kidney transplant recipients. They found after examining the patients' records, from 1905-2003, that the incidence of depression was about 7% the first year after transplantation, 11% in the second year and 13% in the third year. According to this study, kidney failure occurred in 19% of the patients, 8% died with a functioning kidney and 11% had to return to dialysis therapy. This study concluded that depression may double the risk of adverse outcomes. It is suggested that recipients should be recommended for depression screening that is essential to evaluate and monitor the occurrence of depression and identify high risk recipients after transplant that can be referred for psychological intervention.