Depression and coping in adults undergoing dialysis for end-stage renal disease

Research on depression in local patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is sparse. Thus, this study aims to examine the frequency and severity of depression among ESRD patients and relate depression with their coping skills.

A cross-sectional study using universal sampling method was conducted at several dialysis centers in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor, Malaysia. The Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the Brief COPE scale were used to measure depression and coping skill, respectively.

The study involved 274 ESRD patients, comprising of 183 hemodialysis and 91 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients. The result showed that 21.1% of the patients experienced moderate to severe depression. Several components of coping skill were associated with depression. However, only two components in the Brief COPE (behavioral disengagement and self-blame) were identified as predictors.

This study showed that depression is common in ESRD patients and is related to the types of coping skills adopted by patients. Hence, this study provides some insight into ESRD patients with depression. Appropriate counseling should be given to these patients to empower them to cope with the illness so as to enhance their quality of life.