Mental health services in an outpatient dialysis practice

This paper describes the incidence of mental health problems in patients undergoing dialysis and a program designed to provide on-site mental health services, including assessment and treatment, to outpatient hemodialysis patients in a Southern, rural setting, utilizing the psychology staff at a local hospital. Although there are problems that may be unique to this geographic setting, many of the psychosocial problems experienced by outpatients are likely to be seen in other areas as well. This paper further describes the demographic and psychological characteristics of the patients referred for mental health services, and documents that these patients are a particularly vulnerable group with a myriad of psychological, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive difficulties that they must deal with in addition to their ongoing medical problems. Evidence of the program success is provided.