Psychiatric impact of hemodialysis on uremic patients in upper Egypt

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a multifaceted problem having both physical and psychological connotations on the patient. Depression, anxiety, sleep and sexual disorders are common complications observed in patients with renal failure under hemodialysis. Aim of the work: Recognizing the psychiatric complications of hemodialysis on end stage renal disease patients. Methods: A 2-year cross-sectional study at Sohage Governorate, Upper Egypt, in which 1191 hemodialysis patients were enrolled for detection of psychiatric disorders through application of semi-structured interview, Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology [Self-Report] (QIDS-SR), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Arizona sexual experience Scale (ASEX). Results: Psychiatric disorders are common among hemodialysis patients particularly depressive (61.46%), anxiety (35.68%), sleep (67.34%) and sexual disorders (48.36%). Depressive, anxiety and sleep disorders are significantly more prevalent among female hemodialysis patients (58.61%, 70.82% and 60.22% respectively) than male hemodialysis patients (41.39%, 29.18% and 39.78%) while sexual disorders are commoner in male (60.59%) than female (39.41%) hemodialysis patients. Conclusion: Psychiatric sequels of hemodialysis include depression, anxiety, sleep and sexual disorders. They are more common among female patients except sexual disorders which are more common among male patients.