Psychosocial Dimensions in Hemodialysis Patients on Kidney Transplant Waiting List: Preliminary Data

Although the donation rate for deceased and living kidneys has been increasing, the donor organ availability meets only the 30% of kidney needs in Italy. Consequently, hemodialysis patients stay for a long time, an average of 3.2 years, on a waiting list for a kidney transplant with consequent relevant psychological distress or even full-fledged psychiatric disorders, as diagnosed with traditional psychiatric nosological systems. Recent studies report, however, a higher prevalence of other psychosocial syndromes, as diagnosed by using the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR) in medically ill and kidney transplant patients. Nevertheless, no data regarding DCPR prevalence are available in patients waitlisted for a renal transplant (WKTs). Thus, the primary aim of this study was to identify sub-threshold or undetected syndromes by using the DCPR and, secondly, to analyze its relationship with physical and psychological symptoms and daily-life problems in WKTs. A total of 30 consecutive WKTs were assessed using the DCPR Interview and the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview 6.0. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and the Canadian Problem Checklist were used to assess physical and psychological distress symptoms and daily-life problems. A total of 60% of patients met the criteria for at least one DCPR diagnosis; of them, 20% received one DCPR diagnosis (DCPR = 1), and 40% more than one (DCPR > 1), especially the irritability cluster (46.7%), Abnormal Illness Behavior (AIB) cluster (23.3%) and somatization cluster (23.3%). Fifteen patients met the criteria for an ICD diagnosis. Among patients without an ICD-10 diagnosis, 77.8% had at least one DCPR syndrome (p < 0.05). Higher scores on ESAS symptoms (i.e., tiredness, nausea, depression, anxiety, feeling of a lack of well-being and distress), ESAS-Physical, ESAS-Psychological, and ESAS-Total were found among DCPR cases than DCPR non-cases. In conclusion, a high prevalence of DCPR diagnoses was found in WKTs, including those who resulted to be ICD-10 non-cases. The joint use of DCPR and other screening tools (e.g., ESAS) should be evaluated in future research as part of a correct psychosocial assessment of WKTs.

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The Use of Demoralization Scale in Italian Kidney Transplant Recipients

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9072119 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 2119 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yuri Battaglia ◽

Luigi Zerbinati ◽

Giulia Piazza ◽

Elena Martino ◽

Sara Massarenti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kidney Transplant ◽

Daily Life ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Assessment System ◽

Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽

Kidney Transplant Recipients ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Life Problems ◽

Meaning And Purpose ◽

Demoralization Scale

Demoralization is a commonly observed syndrome in medically ill patients. The risk of demoralization may increase in patients after a kidney transplant (KTRs) because of the stressful nature of renal transplantation, psychosocial challenges, and adjustment needs. No study is available on demoralization amongst KTRs. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the validity of the Italian version of the Demoralization Scale (DS-IT) and the prevalence of demoralization in KTRs. Also, we aimed at exploring the association of the DS-IT with International Classification of Diseases (ICD) psychiatric diagnoses, post-traumatic growth (PTG), psychological and physical symptoms, and daily-life problems. A total of 134 KTRs were administered the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview 6.0. and the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research–Demoralization (DCPR/D) Interview. The DS-IT, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), the Canadian Problem Checklist (CPC), were used to measure demoralization, physical and psychological symptoms, and daily-life problems; also, positive psychological experience of kidney transplantation was assessed with the PTG Inventory. Routine biochemistry and sociodemographic data were collected. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a four-dimensional factor structure of the DS-IT, explaining 55% of the variance (loss of meaning and purpose, disheartenment, dysphoria, and sense of failure). DS-IT Cronbach alpha coefficients indicated good or acceptable level of internal consistency. The area under the Receiving Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve for DS-IT (against the DCPR/D interview as a gold standard) was 0.92. The DS-IT optimal cut-off points were ≥20 (sensitivity 0.87, specificity 0.82). By examining the level of demoralization, 14.2%, 46.3%, 24.6%, and 14.6% of our sample were classified as having no, low, moderate, and high demoralization, respectively, with differences according to the ICD psychiatric diagnoses (p < 0.001). DS-IT Total and subscales scores were positively correlated with scores of ESAS symptoms and CPC score. A correlation between DS-IT loss of meaning and purpose subscale and PTGI appreciation of life subscale (p < 0.05) was found. This study shows, for the first time, a satisfactory level of reliability of the DS-IT and a high prevalence of severe demoralization in KTRs.

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Screening Performance of Edmonton Symptom Assessment System in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9040995 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 995 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yuri Battaglia ◽

Luigi Zerbinati ◽

Giulia Piazza ◽

Elena Martino ◽

Michele Provenzano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kidney Transplant ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Symptom Assessment ◽

Assessment System ◽

Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Kidney Transplant Recipients ◽

Edmonton Symptom Assessment System ◽

Screening Performance ◽

Icd 10

An average prevalence of 35% for psychiatric comorbidity has been reported in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and an even higher prevalence of other psychosocial syndromes, as defined by the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR), has also been found in this population. Consequently, an easy, simple, rapid psychiatric tool is needed to measure physical and psychological symptoms of distress in KTRs. Recently, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), a pragmatic patient-centred symptom assessment tool, was validated in a single cohort of KTRs. The aims of this study were: to test the screening performances of ESAS for the International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision (ICD-10) psychiatric diagnoses in KTRs; to investigate the optimal cut-off points for ESAS physical, psychological and global subscales in detecting ICD-10 psychiatric diagnoses; and to compare ESAS scores among KTR with ICD-10 diagnosis and DCPR diagnosis. 134 KTRs were evaluated and administered the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview 6.0 and the DCPR Interview. The ESAS and Canadian Problem Checklist (CPC) were given as self-report instruments to be filled in and were used to examine the severity of physical and psychological symptoms and daily-life problems. The physical distress sub-score (ESAS-PHYS), psychological distress sub-score (ESAS-PSY) and global distress score (ESAS-TOT) were obtained by summing up scores of six physical symptoms, four psychological symptoms and all single ESAS symptoms, respectively. Routine biochemistry, immunosuppressive agents, socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. Receiving Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to examine the ability of the ESAS emotional distress (DT) item, ESAS-TOT, ESAS-PSY and ESAS-PHYS, to detect psychiatric cases defined by using MINI6.0. The area under the ROC curve for ESAS-TOT, ESAS-PHYS, ESAS-PSY and DT item were 0.85, 0.73, 0.89, and 0.77, respectively. The DT item, ESAS-TOT and ESAS-PSY optimal cut-off points were ≥4 (sensitivity 0.74, specificity 0.73), ≥20 (sensitivity 0.85, specificity 0.74) and ≥12 (sensitivity 0.85, specificity 0.80), respectively. No valid ESAS-PHYS cut-off was found (sensitivity <0.7, specificity <0.7). Thirty-nine (84.8%) KTRs with ICD-10 diagnosis did exceed both ESAS-TOT and ESAS-PSY cut-offs. Higher scores on the ESAS symptoms (except shortness of breath and lack of appetite) and on the CPC problems were found for ICD-10 cases and DCRP cases than for ICD-10 no-cases and DCPR no-cases. This study shows that ESAS had an optimal screening performance (84.8%) to identify ICD-10 psychiatric diagnosis, evaluated with MINI; furthermore, ESAS-TOT and ESAS-PSY cut-off points could provide a guide for clinical symptom management in KTRs.

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Prevalence of Carotid Artery Calcification on Digital Panoramic Radiographs in Hemodialysis Patients on Kidney Transplant Waiting List

Experimental and Clinical Transplantation ◽

10.6002/ect.2021.0119 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elif Inönü ◽

Mediha Nur Nisanci Yilmaz ◽

Kaan Orhan ◽

Mehmet Özgür Özemre ◽

Nagehan Burcu Ögütcü ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Kidney Transplant ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Waiting List ◽

Panoramic Radiographs ◽

Carotid Artery Calcification

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Physical Activity in Daily Life Assessed by an Accelerometer in Kidney Transplant Recipients and Hemodialysis Patients

Transplantation Proceedings ◽

10.1016/j.transproceed.2014.05.019 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 46 (6) ◽

pp. 1713-1717 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

E.V. Carvalho ◽

M.M. Reboredo ◽

E.P. Gomes ◽

D.R. Teixeira ◽

N.C. Roberti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Kidney Transplant ◽

Daily Life ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Kidney Transplant Recipients

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A Daily Activities List and its Relation to Measures of Adjustment and Early Environment

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1971.28.3.691 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 691-699 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

James D. Stanfiel ◽

William G. Tompkins ◽

Harriet L. Brown

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Daily Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Activity Level ◽

Self Report ◽

Daily Activities ◽

Developmental History ◽

Early Environment ◽

Report Measure

The Daily Activities List (DAL), a self-report measure developed for a study of cancer patients, contains items denoting ordinary behavior of daily life such as work and recreation. Correlations were obtained for DAL activity level with indices of current emotional well-being and certain factors of developmental history. More active Ss (high scorers on DAL) tended to manifest less anxiety and other kinds of psychological distress and received more favorable ratings of early environment. Reliability data are presented and issues of validity and conceptual interpretation ate discussed.

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Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment in Hemodialysis Patients on Kidney Transplant Waiting List. Comment on: Nakai et al.

Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis ◽

10.1111/1744-9987.12594 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 515-516

Author(s):

Giorgia Comai ◽

Maria Cappuccilli ◽

Giuseppe Cianciolo ◽

Gaetano La Manna

Keyword(s):

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Kidney Transplant ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Waiting List

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Computerised emotional well-being and substance use questionnaires in young Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian adults

SAGE Open Medicine ◽

10.1177/2050312120906042 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 205031212090604

Author(s):

Belinda Davison ◽

Robyn Liddle ◽

Joseph Fitz ◽

Gurmeet R Singh

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Substance Use ◽

Young Adults ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Well Being ◽

Target Population ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Indigenous Australians ◽

Indigenous Australian

Background: Mental health disorders rank among the most substantial causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Almost half of Australian adults experience mental illness at some point in their lifetime, with Indigenous Australians disproportionally affected. Thus, it is imperative that effective, acceptable screening tools are used, which are tailored to the target population. Objectives: This research investigates the methodology of computerised questionnaires in assessing the emotional well-being and substance use in Indigenous and non-Indigenous young adults. Methods: Cross-sectional data from young adults (21–28 years) in the Life Course Program, Northern Territory, Australia, are presented. Through an extensive consultation process, validated questionnaires were adapted to a computerised format suitable for both remote and urban residing Indigenous and non-Indigenous adults. Results: Of the 576 participants (459 Indigenous, 117 non-Indigenous) available for assessment, high consent rates were seen, with completion rates >86%. One in three young adults in this cohort were highlighted as ‘at risk’ of psychological distress, and one in five as ‘at risk’ of suicidal ideation or self-harm. Conclusion: The target population of this study were at a critical age with high levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation reported, particularly in Indigenous young adults. This simple, user-friendly, pictorial programme allowed assessment of a sensitive topic anonymously, while simultaneously collating data and identifying those at high risk, irrespective of literacy level or cultural background.

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Assessment of health related issues in individuals’, couples’, and families’ daily life

Zeitschrift für Gesundheitspsychologie ◽

10.1026/0943-8149.16.3.146 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 146-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Meinrad Perrez ◽

Michael Reicherts ◽

Yves Hänggi ◽

Andrea B. Horn ◽

Gisela Michel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Daily Life ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Well Being ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Emotional States ◽

Self Reports ◽

Health Related ◽

Lower Variability

Abstract. Most research in health psychology is based on retrospective self reports, which are distorted by recall biases and have low ecological validity. To overcome such limitations we developed computer assisted diary approaches to assess health related behaviours in individuals’, couples’ and families’ daily life. The event- and time-sampling-based instruments serve to assess appraisals of the current situation, feelings of physical discomfort, current emotional states, conflict and emotion regulation in daily life. They have proved sufficient reliability and validity in the context of individual, couple and family research with respect to issues like emotion regulation and health. As examples: Regarding symptom reporting curvilinear pattern of frequencies over the day could be identified by parents and adolescents; or psychological well-being is associated with lower variability in basic affect dimensions. In addition, we report on preventive studies to improve parental skills and enhance their empathic competences towards their baby, and towards their partner.

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Associations Between Dutch LGBT Hate Crime Experience, Well-Being, Trust in the Police and Future Hate Crime Reporting

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000409 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (3) ◽

pp. 171-182

Author(s):

Allard R. Feddes ◽

Kai J. Jonas

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Hate Crime ◽

Well Being ◽

Crime Victims ◽

Crime Reporting ◽

Survey Study ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Building Trust ◽

Reporting Intentions

Abstract. LGBT-related hate crime is a conscious act of aggression against an LGBT citizen. The present research investigates associations between hate crime, psychological well-being, trust in the police and intentions to report future experiences of hate crime. A survey study was conducted among 391 LGBT respondents in the Netherlands. Sixteen percent experienced hate crime in the 12 months prior. Compared to non-victims, victims had significant lower psychological well-being, lower trust in the police and lower intentions to report future hate crime. Hate crime experience and lower psychological well-being were associated with lower reporting intentions through lower trust in the police. Helping hate crime victims cope with psychological distress in combination with building trust in the police could positively influence future reporting.

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