Purpose of review 

The aim of this study was to examine updated prevalence rates, risk factors and the prognosis, diagnosis and treatments for depression among dialysis patients.

Recent findings 

Depression influences prognosis, complications, quality of life (QOL), treatment and costs for dialysis patients worldwide. Reported prevalence of depression is 13.1–76.3%; it is higher for dialysis than transplant and higher post than predialysis. Reported depression rates with peritoneal dialysis (PD) compared with in-centre haemodialysis (HD) are inconsistent. Related medical factors are known, but suspected associated patient characteristics including gender and race remain unexplored. Associations between depression in dialysis and QOL, mortality, pathophysiological mechanisms of increased mortality, infection and pathways of inflammation-mediated and psychosocial factors require clarification. Several depression screening instruments are validated for dialysis patients – the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM disorders (SCID) remains the gold standard – but authors suggest the diagnostic standard should be higher than for the general population. Short-term studies indicate nonpharmacological therapy achieves clinical effects for depression in dialysis patients, but research on long-term effects is needed.

Summary 

Depression management through early screening and continuous care models emphasizing dynamic relationships between healthcare teams, patients and families should be encouraged. Large-scale studies of short-term and long-term benefits of pharmacological and nonpharmacological depression management are warranted.