Identifying and Treating Depression in Hemodialysis Patients

Summary

Depression is present in about 20-30% of hemodialysis patients and is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, depression is inadequately diagnosed and treated among dialysis patients. This is due in part to the overlap between depressive symptoms (e.g. appetite change, trouble sleeping, feeling tired) and symptoms related to persistent metabolic derangements in hemodialysis patients (e.g. nausea, nocturnal cramps, feeling washed out after treatment). The overlap between depressive symptoms and dialysis-related complications makes it difficult to diagnose and therefore to treat depression. In addition, prescription of antidepressant medication may increase an already high pill burden and result in poor adherence. Moreover, the evidence base to guide depression treatment among hemodialysis patients is limited. In the investigators' previous work, they developed methods to use latent variables and structural equation modeling to isolate depressive symptoms. Other investigators have demonstrated that directly observed treatment enhances the effectiveness of tuberculosis and HIV treatment. Investigators now propose a cross-sectional study (Phase 1) followed by a single-arm clinical trial (Phase 2) at 17 dialysis facilities. The cross-sectional study will involve assessments of depressive symptoms (using the PHQ-9 screening instrument) as well as dialysis-related complications, anxiety, and quality of life (Quality of Life Questionnaire) in about 1083 patients. Investigators will then use structural equation modeling to develop and validate a hemodialysis-specific PHQ-9 (hdPHQ-9) that will isolate depressive symptoms. The trial will involve 96 patients with confirmed depression who will be assigned to directly observed weekly antidepressant treatment with fluoxetine. The primary outcome of the trial will be remission of depression at 12 weeks. The trial results will also be used to compare the responsiveness of the PHQ-9 and the hdPHQ-9. Investigators anticipate that the hdPHQ-9 will be a valid and responsive instrument that will isolate depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients and ultimately improve the screening and diagnosis of depression. Investigators also expect that directly observed weekly fluoxetine treatment will be an effective way to manage depression among hemodialysis patients.

Timeline

Start

2018-03-01

Primary completion

2023-02-28

Completion

2023-02-28

Publications

• Background Cohen SD, Norris L, Acquaviva K, Peterson RA, Kimmel PL. Screening, diagnosis, and treatment of depression in patients with end-stage renal disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007 Nov;2(6):1332-42. doi: 10.2215/CJN.03951106. Epub 2007 Oct 17.
• Background Hedayati SS, Bosworth HB, Kuchibhatla M, Kimmel PL, Szczech LA. The predictive value of self-report scales compared with physician diagnosis of depression in hemodialysis patients. Kidney Int. 2006 May;69(9):1662-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.ki.5000308.
• Background Watnick S, Wang PL, Demadura T, Ganzini L. Validation of 2 depression screening tools in dialysis patients. Am J Kidney Dis. 2005 Nov;46(5):919-24. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2005.08.006.
• Background Cohen SD, Kimmel PL. Nutritional status, psychological issues and survival in hemodialysis patients. Contrib Nephrol. 2007;155:1-17. doi: 10.1159/000100952.
• Background Kimmel PL, Peterson RA, Weihs KL, Simmens SJ, Alleyne S, Cruz I, Veis JH. Multiple measurements of depression predict mortality in a longitudinal study of chronic hemodialysis outpatients. Kidney Int. 2000 May;57(5):2093-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.2000.00059.x.
• Background Kimmel PL, Peterson RA, Weihs KL, Simmens SJ, Boyle DH, Verme D, Umana WO, Veis JH, Alleyne S, Cruz I. Behavioral compliance with dialysis prescription in hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1995 Apr;5(10):1826-34. doi: 10.1681/ASN.V5101826.
• Background Lacson E Jr, Bruce L, Li NC, Mooney A, Maddux FW. Depressive affect and hospitalization risk in incident hemodialysis patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Oct 7;9(10):1713-9. doi: 10.2215/CJN.01340214. Epub 2014 Oct 2.
• Background Lopes AA, Albert JM, Young EW, Satayathum S, Pisoni RL, Andreucci VE, Mapes DL, Mason NA, Fukuhara S, Wikstrom B, Saito A, Port FK. Screening for depression in hemodialysis patients: associations with diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes in the DOPPS. Kidney Int. 2004 Nov;66(5):2047-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00977.x.
• Background Chiu YW, Teitelbaum I, Misra M, de Leon EM, Adzize T, Mehrotra R. Pill burden, adherence, hyperphosphatemia, and quality of life in maintenance dialysis patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Jun;4(6):1089-96. doi: 10.2215/CJN.00290109. Epub 2009 May 7.
• Kauffman KM, Dolata J, Figueroa M, Gunzler D, Huml A, Pencak J, Sajatovic M, Sehgal AR. Directly Observed Weekly Fluoxetine for Major Depressive Disorder Among Hemodialysis Patients: A Single-Arm Feasibility Trial. Kidney Med. 2022 Jan 17;4(3):100413. doi: 10.1016/j.xkme.2022.100413. eCollection 2022 Mar.

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