[Control of weight gain between dialyses in patients undergoing periodic hemodialysis. Psychological aspects]

Some patients undergoing periodic hemodialysis have complained that between one treatment session and the next they suffer form thirst and have serious problems in maintaining their interdialytic weight gain within the limits indicated by the medical team. Weight gain may usually be explained by psychological factors: they may be more or less acute depending on the situation in which the patient finds himself. On the basis of the present study, the Authors affirm that the lack of interdialytic weight control may be easily improved by providing the patient with psychological support capable of optimising his general level of adaptation, and that this can lead to excellent results with regard to specific problems which otherwise detract from the wellbeing of the patient and hamper the work of the medical team.