Evaluation of depression, anxiety, stress, and decision regret in kidney transplant recipients Depression, anxiety, stress, and decision regret in kidney transplantation

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate decision regret, depression, anxiety, and stress scores in patients after kidney transplantation as well as the effects of patient characteristics on these variables. Material and Methods: This descriptive study enrolled 340 individuals who underwent kidney transplantation in a private hospital in Istanbul between January 2017 and February 2021. The study sample comprised 302 individuals who volunteered to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria. The Patient Information Form, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21), and Decision Regret Scale were used as data collection tools. Results: Mean depression, anxiety, stress, and decision regret scores were 2.454 +/- 3.427, 2.589 +/- 2.881, 1.825 +/- 2.073, and 18.311 +/- 20.123, respectively. Notably, these scores increased with an increase in age, and they were higher in single individuals, unemployed patients, nonbelievers, and those with chronic renal failure for a longer duration. Furthermore, depression, anxiety, and stress scores increased with increasing time after transplantation. In the present study, depression, stress, anxiety, and decision regret scores were significantly higher in patients who received transplants from their children. Discussion: The results of this study indicate that certain personal and clinical characteristics of kidney transplant recipients may affect depression, anxiety, stress, and decision regret after translation. Increasing the existing knowledge of such patients can minimize the risk of adverse effects of transplantation, including both somatic and psychological effects.