Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neuropsychiatry

Depression is highly prevalent among patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis. The etiopathology of depression among ESRD patients is multi factorial including many psychological factors such as sense of loss, family and social isolation, work problems, pain, fatigue and other biological causes. . If those patients fail to use adequate coping mechanisms in dealing with their emotional illness, emotional dysregulation arises. The biological factors include inflammatory cytokines through its strong influence on neurotransmitter metabolism and neuro endocrinal functions. It has been recommended in literature to study the differences in immunological and inflammatory markers and their relation to depression between adults and adolescents. The global influence of depression in hemodialysis patients on family, work compliance, fear of death and dependence on treatment negatively affect quality of life in those patients. The study comprised 121 patients, on regular dialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Males constituted 52.1% of the study sample (63 males) and females 47.9% (58 females). (82.6%) of the study sample were adults (100), age > 21yrs, and (17.4%) were adolescents (age {u2264} 21 years old)

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