[The patient on hemodialysis: psychological and management difficulties]

Chronic renal failure is a public health problem of great relevance for significant mortality and high socio-economic impact. This study purposed to assess the psychological status in patients on hemodialysis; moreover other purpose is to investigate the possible differences among the first 3 months of hemodialysis treatment replacement.

The study was carried out on 12 hemodialysis patients, aged 71.6 years (range: 34-87). Mood was measured by using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) developed in 1971 by Douglas M. McNair.

The overall score of mood disorders shows a total negative state in the initial phases of dialysis treatment [F (2,22) = 10.17; p <0.01] and a progressive improvement of the same, with a linear trend [F (1,11) = 12.65; p <0.05].

The model of hemodialysis patients is particularly interesting for several reasons, but especially for the possibility of crosssectional and longitudinal assessments. The aim of future studies will be to characterize and investigate the complex psycho-social variables in this category of patients, to improve their quality of life.