Psychopathology, Family Support System and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Yang, Jong Chul; Lim, So Yeon; Choi, Ki Chul

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship among psychopathology, family support system and quality of life in patients treated with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation and provide useful information for therapeutic approach to patients with chronic renal failure. METHODS: The subjects of the present study are 43 patients who have been treated with hemodialysis, 53 patients treated with peritoneal dialysis and 34 patients treated by renal transplantation. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Symptom Checklist-90- Revised (SCL-90-R) for psychopathology, Family Adhesion Scale, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale II (FACES II) for family support system, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument for quality of life were administered to subjects. To examine these, ANOVAs and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted. RESULTS: The patients who have been treated with hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis showed higher scores of depression in BDI and SCL-90-R than patients treated with renal transplantation. Depression correlated with family cohesion & adaptability, negatively. Hostility correlated with family adhesion & cohesion, negatively. Somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, phobic anxiety and psychoticism correlated with quality of life, negatively. CONCLUSION: The main findings of this study indicate that psychopathology significantly related with family support system and quality of life of the patients with chronic renal failure. These results suggest that the psychosocial intervention are necessary to promote the mental health, strengthen the family support system, and improve the quality of life in the patients with chronic renal failure.