Effect of dignity therapy model on stress, anxiety and depression of hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Aim: Dignity therapy is a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of psychological problems in patients under maintenance hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dignity therapy model on stress, anxiety and depression of patients under maintenance hemodialysis.

Methods: In a randomised controlled trial conducted from December 2013 to March 2014 in one hemodialysis center in Iran, 42 patients under maintenance hemodialysis were randomly assigned into two groups (control and intervention group). Patients’ level of stress, anxiety and depression were measured with using DASS-21 questionnaire before and one week after dignity therapy protocol implantation.

Results: Before implementation of dignity therapy protocol, level of stress, anxiety and depression were high and similar in patients in both groups (p > .05). After implementation of dignity therapy protocol, level of stress, anxiety and depression significantly decreased in patients in dignity therapy group (p > .05) but not in patients in control group (p > .05).

Conclusions: Level of stress, anxiety and depression among hemodialysis patients is high. Dignity therapy is an effective intervention for decreasing stress, anxiety and depression in this group of patients.