Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety and Life Quality in Kidney Transplant Recipients

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare depression, anxiety and quality of life in kidney transplant
patients with normal population and to evaluate mental well-being.

MATERIAL and METHODS: One hundred renal transplant patients and 100 healthy volunteers were
enrolled in this study. Sociodemographic and laboratory variables were recorded. Severity of depressive
and anxiety symptoms and quality of life were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory, and Short Form 36 (SF-36), respectively.

RESULTS: In the transplantation patients, serum creatinine and albumin levels were significantly
higher than the control group, hemoglobin and triglyceride levels were significantly lower. In the
control group, the percentages of university graduates and active employees were higher than in the
transplantation group and low-income rate was lower. When compared with the period of dialysis,
96% of transplant patients were feeling better after kidney transplantation. There was no difference
between depression, state and trait anxiety scores in both groups. Physical and mental health scores
were significantly lower in the transplant group. In the control group, physical function, physical role,
general health, social function and emotional role were significantly higher than the transplant group. In
the transplant group, donor type, gender, income level and depression rates of educational attainment, state and trait anxiety scores did not differ. Patients with living donor recipients had a higher score of physical function when compared to cadaveric
donor recipients. Beck depression score for women and mental health scores for man were significantly higher than other species. In high-income
patients, physical health, physical role and pain scores were higher significantly than those of low-incomes. Emotional role in transplant patients
with basic education was lower than in transplant patients with moderate and high level of education.

CONCLUSION: After kidney transplantation, patients were similar to the normal population regarding the frequency of depression and anxiety,
but the quality of life was still lower.