The Influence of Psychological Intervention on Cognitive Appraisal and Level of Anxiety in Dialysis Patients: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

The great progress with the application of a dialysis allows patients with the end-stage renal disease to live in a satisfactory somatic state for many years. This pilot study examined if the psychological intervention improves psychic state of the patients with renal disease undergoing hemodyalisis.

The study was a randomized controlled trial using a convenience sample of 62 fully informed and consenting patients with the end-stage renal disease who were assigned to experimental (psychological intervention) or control (usual care) groups. Participants in the experimental group listened to a CD with a psychological intervention twice a day during 3 weeks. The instruments were the Cognitive Appraisal Inventory and the STAI-Anxiety Inventory.

After the application of a psychological intervention, the experimental group had a lower level of anxiety t(30) = 2.99; p < .005, a weaker intensity of cognitive appraisal of the treatment situation as a threat t(30)=3.48; p < .05, a weaker intensity of cognitive appraisal of the situation as a harm/loss t(30)=2.75; p < .05 and a stronger intensity of cognitive appraisal of the situation as a challenge t(30) = 3.49; p < .05. The applied psychological intervention makes it possible to decrease the level of anxiety and to change cognitive appraisal of treatment situation.

The applied psychological intervention influences the patients' psychological state in a positive way. Such changes may indirectly contribute to improving social contacts as well as to increasing satisfaction with the undertaken activities.