A comparison of psychosocial disability in males undergoing maintenance hemodialysis or following cadaver transplantation.

Sixteen males undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were evaluated for social disability through the use of the Ruesch Social Disability Rating Scale and were compared with a group of 16 cadaver renal transplant recipients, matched for age and marital status. All 16 had excellent functioning of their transplanted kidney. In both groups most patients experienced a major degree of social disability, indicating significant interference with life-style. Patients who were married had lower social disability scores (DS) than those who were divorced or single (P less than 0.01). Contrary to expectation, no differences were noted between these two groups with regard to the overall degree of social disability. The DS data are corroborated by other clinical indices, such as employment status, financial stability, degree of depression and sexual functioning, which indicated similar degrees of impairment in both groups. New approaches, aimed at the preservation and enhancement of social and avocational skills, are mandatory of a comprehensive effort seriously geared towards rehabilitation is to be implemented in the overall treatment of these patients. The expertise of the mental health professional, especially the liaison psychiatrist, is critical for this task.