title: Correlational study between psychic symptoms and quality of life among hemodialysis patients older than 55 years of age.
abstract: The loss of renal function and urination with dialysis can produce a strong emotional crisis in a patient. This study explored the correlation between psychic symptoms and quality of life among hemodialysis patients who were older than 55 years of age in relation to demographic characteristics of age, time on dialysis, and education.
  
  
  
  Twenty patients undergoing hemodialysis were included in the study. The psychic symptoms were studied using the Symptom Checklist-90. Revised (SCL-90 R) and the quality of life was studied using the Complete Form Health Survey (SF 36).
  
  
  
  The high correlation between psychological sizes investigated through the SCL-90 R test and those for the SF-36 test confirmed the close relationship between physical disorders and mental suffering, and reduced vitality, and lack of socialization.
  
  
  
  The psychiatrist and psychologist may help hemodialysis patients to improve their quality of life by providing new coping strategies for each of the family, occupational, and social network.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Pasquale
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pistorio
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mistretta
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zerbo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sinagra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giaquinta
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tallarita
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Esker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mociskyte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gula
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veroux
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*