Nutritional status in hemodialysis patients is inversely related to depression and introversion.

Although hemodialysis (HD) is a life-sustaining treatment for the majority of patients with end-stage renal disease, it may adversely affect their psychological status. Depression is highly prevalent among these patients, and it is associated with malnutrition, morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have demonstrated that depression is positively associated with neuroticism and introversion in HD patients. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between depression, personality traits (extraversion-introversion, neuroticism, psychoticism) and nutritional status among HD patients. Fifty-two HD patients were assessed via questionnaires for depression (CES-D) and personality traits (EYSENCK, EPQ). Nutritional assessment was conducted through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometry measurements (height, post-dialysis weight). The study revealed novel significant correlations. Both post-dialysis weight and phase angle were negatively related to introversion (r = -0.314, p < 0.05 and r = -0.542, p < 0.01, respectively) and depression (r = -0.456, p < 0.01 and r = -0.467, p < 0.01, respectively). This study demonstrates that both depression and introversion are inversely related to adequate nourishment in HD patients and suggests that personality plays an important role in the nutritional status of these patients.