The mental health perceptions of persons with kidney disease in terminal stage in Nigeria

Renal disease is is a measure set back in the life of individual carries multiple mental health issues with it. Person sufers from renal disease faces anxiety, depression and other psychosocial consequences. The aim of the study is to assess the perceived mental health of our patients undergoing dialysis and to establish any correlation with certain biochemical and clinical variables. The sample consists of 86 CKD patients, 37 predialysis and 51 ESRD (44 HD and 7 PD). The MOS SF36 Quality of life instrument was used to evaluate patients. The mental health components of General Health (GH), Vitality (VT), Social Functioning (SF), Role Emotional (RE), and Mental Health (MH) were used to assess patients’ perceptions of their mental health status. Clinical and biochemical variables of patients were also assessed. The results reveals that 100% of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients viewed their mental health as low. The mental health scores of patients were statistically signiicantly lower than that of healthy controls (p=0.00) They were also statistically signiicantly lower than those of predialysis chronic kidney disease patients (p=0.00) The GH, VT, SF and RE scores were also statistically signiicantly lower than that of healthy controls and predialysis patients (p=0.00).There is need to do a comprehensive mental health evaluation of all ESRD patients as there is currently no routine evaluation and treatment of the mental health of our ESRD patients. There is also need to consider not only the management of their physical illness but also the mental health aspect of their disease process as well with possible routine involvement of the mental health physicians.