Prevalence of anxiety and depression in Iranian kidney transplant recipients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of depression and anxiety in Iranian patients receiving a kidney transplant.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Shiraz Organ Transplant Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran between September 2006 and July 2007. We evaluated depression and anxiety in renal transplant recipients who had a follow-up appointment scheduled. The study participants consisted of 109 male and 91 female renal transplant patients, age ranged from 17-73 years with a mean age of 39.64 years (SD = 12.85). All patients were assessed using validated Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory.

RESULTS: Out of 200 patients, 75% showed depression and 50% had anxiety. Among variables, donor type, pretransplant dialysis period, posttransplant period, and rejection had a significant relationship with depression and anxiety.

CONCLUSION: The frequency of depression and anxiety is high in renal transplantation. Psychiatric evaluation should be a routine part of most pre-transplant candidacy workups. Transplant patients with a history of rejection should receive more attention for psychiatric problems. The type of the graft donor was also found to be an important factor affecting anxiety and depression in renal transplant patients.