Integration of Clinical Psychology into Hemodialysis Programs

Abstract

(from the chapter) described end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as a very intrusive chronic illness that places enormous stresses on patients and their families / the physical sequelae of ESRD are chronic fatigue, sexual dysfunctioning, and a host of other very troublesome problems / most ESRD patients must use some version of hemodialysis, which adds to the intrusiveness of the illness / these stressors, in turn, result in substantial levels of anxiety, depression, and other psychological difficulties for dialysands and their families two assessment devices were described in this chapter that can assist psychologists in determining the specific types of problems experienced by patients and their families: the Dialysis Problem Checklists . . . and the Self-Care Dialysis Checklist treatment of the problems associated with ESRD may include a full range of clinical interventions / this chapter focused . . . on cognitive-behavioral techniques that may help dialysands to manage their own treatments more completely and to improve their adherence to the restrictive fluid and dietary requirements associated with hemodialysis (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)