Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-22-2008

Abstract

Hypothesis: Children with a diagnosis of chronic renal disease (CRD) for longer than 2.5 years will have higher T-scores of the Childrens Depression Inventory (CDI) as compared to children with CRD who have been diagnosed with less than 2.5 years ago. Background: Current estimates are that 7.4 million Americans suffer from chronic renal disease. The annual incidence of pediatric kidney disease is 15 per million, ages 0-19. CRD is a serious and progressive disease affecting many different aspects of a childs life. Studies to date have examined the correlation between depression and chronic kidney disease in adults. One study noted 40% of adults with kidney disease also suffered some type of depressive disorder. Research involving children has been very minimal. There is not much research to see if a child has depressive symptoms or if they get better or worse over the duration of their illness. Pervious studies have shown children with chronic medical problems tend to be at higher risk of suffering from depression. Methods: This project will use pediatric patients who are receiving treatment at the University of New Mexico pediatric nephrology clinic. These patients are part of a larger study involving children with CRD and comparing them to the general pediatric population. Thirty-two children between the ages of seven and seventeen, who are currently being treated for a chronic renal disease, will be identified using certain established eligibility requirements. Each patient will be given a CDI, which is standardized survey that assesses depression in children aged seven to seventeen. Each survey will generate a T-score. A T-score above 65 indicates the child may be experiencing some depressive symptoms. The results will then be categorized into two groups. Those that have had a diagnosis of CRD less than 2.5 years in one and those greater than 2.5 years in another. The mean score for these two groups will then be analyzed using a Two-sample t-test. Expected results: It is expected that children who have had a diagnosis of CRD greater than 2.5 years will show more depressive symptoms, based on CDI survey results. Conclusion: This study provides some more information on children and CRD. The results show that children diagnosed with CRD less than 2.5 years did have higher overall T-scores. Being a small study it is difficult to make any major conclusions, however it did appear to show a trend that children in the earlier stages of kidney disease maybe at risk for depressive symptoms.'

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