Psychiatric morbidity and its impact on quality of life in patients of chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and suicidal behavior by using a structured diagnostic interview in patients of chronic kidney disease currently on dialysis. An additional aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of psychiatric morbidity on quality of life (QOL). Methodology: One hundred and ten patients undergoing hemodialysis were evaluated, at least 24 h after the last dialysis on Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview PLUS (MINI PLUS), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition. Results: On MINI-PLUS, about two-thirds (67.3%) of the study sample fulfilled at least one-lifetime psychiatric diagnosis and half of the study participants fulfilled a current psychiatric diagnosis. More than one-fourth (29.1%) of the study participants had more than one psychiatric diagnosis. Among various psychiatric disorders, depressive disorders were the most common (45.5%). About one-third of the participants had suicidality, as assessed on MINI-PLUS and C-SSRS. Compared to those without psychiatric morbidity, those with psychiatric morbidity had a poor QOL. Conclusions: In view of the high psychiatric morbidity and its negative impact on the QOL of patients undergoing hemodialysis, there is a need for close liaison between nephrologists, transplant surgeons and mental health professionals.