Background: Chronic kidney disease is a severe condition that can affect different dimensions of the patients' wellbeing. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the treatment type on the patients' levels of depression and anxiety as well as on their body image.
Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 146 respondents divided into three groups, 53 treated by hemodialysis (HD), 53 treated by kidney transplantation (TX), and 90 controls. Body image scale, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were used to assess the patients.
Results: There was no difference in BIS between the groups HD and TX, nor between the TX and their age-matched controls. The TX group had lower levels of depression when compared to the HD group, and their levels of depression were similar to those of controls. No significant differences in anxiety were observed between the groups.
Conclusion: Since the levels of depression are higher in the HD group, special attention should be given to these patients. Higher levels of psychological well-being in the transplant group is an additional factor why transplantation is the preferred method of treatment of CKD.