A short-term follow-up of patients with depressive disorder on entry into home dialysis training

Fifteen (18%) of 83 patients entering home hemodialysis training were found to suffer major depressive disorder diagnosed by rigorous clinical criteria. The diagnosis of depressive disorder was associated with a diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease. It was not, however, associated with past or family history of affective illness. Neither intellectual impairment nor chemical uremia were more pronounced in the patients with depressive disorder than in the patients without depressive disorder. Depressive symptoms almost invariably remitted during home dialysis training and had no apparent influence on outcome on the basis of a short-term (3-month) follow-up.