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Abstract
Background Depression and anxiety are prevalent among patients with end-stage renal
disease (ESRD) and associated with increase in morbidity and mortality and decrease the
quality of life. Generally, depression and anxiety are under-diagnosed and under-treated due to
lack of evidence-based regime that ensures the safety of psychotropic drugs in the ESRD
population. The similarity of depressive and anxiety symptoms with uremia symptoms delays
diagnosis and worsens the underlying depression and potentially leads to suicidal ideation,
which falls into one of the signs of a severe clinical depression. Therefore, the aim of this
manuscript is to raise the awareness of depression and anxiety in ESRD patients. Case
Illustration A 36-years-old man presented with palpitation, shortness of breath, tremors,
choking sensation around the neck, and the feeling of impeding doom especially at nighttime,
everyday for the past two months. He was admitted to the hospital due to anemia and ESRD
with maintenance dialysis. Upon futher interview, we discovered that the patient has had
suicidal ideation for the past eight months accompanied with classic presentation of severe
clinical depression. The patient was immediately consulted to the psychiatric department and a
treatment was initiated on low-dose fluoxetine daily. He reported a significant improvement on
the subsequent visit. Discussion Depression and anxiety are easily overlooked and results in
worsening of the symptoms that contribute to poor outcome. Early screening for depression and
prompt referral for psychiatric evaluation is needed to diagnose and initiate suitable treatments
to prevent futher mental deterioration. Conclusion Mental health comorbidities, commonly
depression and anxiety, presents a great challenge in diagnosis and treatment for patients with
ESRD due to the nature of the disease. There are urgent needs to develop multidisciplinary
collaboration to screen and evaluate patients for depression and anxiety and develop algorithms
for the treatment in order to decrease morbidity and mortality, thus increase the quality of life.
Keywords : Depression, Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation, ESRD, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.
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