How Can A Psychologist Help Patients Going For Kidney Dialysis?

By Author: Pauline Cabrera
Total Articles: 1
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Mental problems when left untreated will affect directly affect the patients’ quality of life. It has been found that individuals undergoing dialysis who suffer from depression are twice as likely as those individuals without depression to get admitted to hospital more often or to die in a year or so.
Depression are often linked with shortened or missed dialysis treatments, hence patients’ who have depressive symptoms are more likely not getting the appropriate care. One should be aware that the mental health problems are very likely treatable. Here, the psychologists’ role is important in identifying the symptoms of mental and emotional issues and help them stay healthy in mind and body.
Talking and Listening
When patients first learn they need dialysis, they can experience any number of emotions, including guilt, anger, grief, denial and shock. And while they’re in the midst of sorting through these complicated feelings, they are often bombarded with complex information like the information on dialysis process, new drug prescriptions, and new dietary restrictions. This can make anyone feel dizzy.
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... Understanding with patients can have a significant impact. Psychologists acknowledge that dialysis is complicated and hard, and let the patients know that they are not alone in feeling dazed. They help them to adjust to life on dialysis. Dialysis is life changing. For many people, adapting to those changes will take some time. As a psychologist, they have a clear end goal in sight for the patient’s health. But the best way to move patients toward that goal isn’t with a single leap. Instead, psychologists help them set small, achievable steps along the way.
It is important to praise their efforts, no matter how minor they may seem. Positive reinforcement can go a long way and this is well known to psychologists.
How psychologists help?
Psychologist also pay close attention to newly diagnosed patients; and make them understand that adjusting to the dialysis regimen is often a particularly hard time.
Psychologists always have an eye out of their patients for signs that they are struggling. They will easily understand by their appearance if suddenly becoming unkempt.They will know if they seem listless and distracted rather than engaged in the conversation. Psychologists will always be watchful of their patients’ if they are asking any questions or missing or coming late for dialysis.
Observing patients is only one piece of the puzzle. Without hesitation they will be ready to help and ask questions about a patient’s mood, stress level, sleep habits and support systems. It’s not always easy to talk about mental health. Patients often feel relieved when asked and appreciated and they will feel that they are concerned. Failure to follow medical advice is an important and common sign of emotional distress. Are patients taking their medications, monitoring their diet and fluid intake, and following their dialysis regimen? These are the duties of psychologists and they know how to do it.
Dialysis patients can safely take some antidepressant medications, but there are important non-drug options to consider, too. Generally psychologists adapt the patients to follow some cognitive behavioural therapy and exercise therapy which are both effective at treating depression in people with chronic kidney disease.

Dialysis may be life changing, but it’s also life sustaining. Taking the right psychologists’ help, patients with kidney disease can overcome the psychological and emotional barriers to living a good quality of life with dialysis.

It is very important for patients to maintain proper blood protein levels and prevent its loss through proteinuria. Your dialysis team will monitor your monthly albumin level, provide dietary instructions and help prevent and treat infections and inflammation.