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.