Effect of Brief Tailor-made Modular Psychological Intervention on the Management of Depression in Kidney Patients

From a hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 32 patients with renal failure, who had just started dialysis, were selected by Purposive Sampling method. There were 20 male and 12 female in the age range of 28-55 years. The entire sample was assessed using Case Study Schedule and BDI (Beck, 1971). A brief tailor-made modular psychological intervention was administered on the entire sample individually for 8 sessions, 4 sessions before dialysis and 4 sessions after dialysis. They were re-assessed using the same tools soon after 8 sessions of psychological intervention (Assessment II). The subjects practiced the psychological intervention using Relaxation Therapy CD. After 4 months, a follow up assessment, Assessment III was done using the same tools with Case Study Re-assessment Schedule. Only 30 subjects were available for Assessment III as one had passed away and one was not available after transplantation. Though the subjects had 'Moderate to Severe' depression in all the 3 assessments, the differences in mean BDI scores of the subjects (Assessment 1=28.26, Assessment 11=23.62 and Assessment 111=20.56) were statistically significant, indicating a significant reduction in depression.