Prevalence and clinical correlates of depression in chronic kidney disease patients in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Prognosis and associated complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may result in psychological distress and mood disorders especially depression. Prevalence and clinical correlates of depression in CKD patients in the Indian context are not well studied and established. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 84 CKD patients. The diagnosis was made based on the diagnostic and statistical manual, 4 th edition criteria; psychiatric disorders were ruled out through the mini-neuropsychiatric interview. Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used to assess the severity of depression. Suicidal ideations were evaluated by using a modified scale of suicidal ideations. Data were analyzed using Epi Info 7 software. Results: The prevalence of major depression was 44.05%, while the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 82.14%. Age of the patients (P = 0.0065), patients on dialysis (P < 0.0001), and serum creatinine levels > 5 (P = 0.0180) showed a statistically significant association with depression. The prevalence of depression was significantly associated with dialysis (P < 0.0001). The severity of depression and the severity of suicidal ideations were well correlated with each other (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The increased prevalence of depression and suicidal ideations was observed in CKD patients. We strongly recommend initiating screening of depression in CKD patients for appropriate rehabilitation and improved the quality of life.