title: Cognitive dysfunction in patients with renal failure requiring hemodialysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Renal failure patients show significant impairment on measures of attention and memory, and consistently perform significantly better on neuropsychological measures of memory and attention, approximately 24 hours after hemodialysis treatment. The objectives are to determine the cognitive dysfunction in patients with renal failure requiring hemodialysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 subjects comprising of 30 renal failure patients and 30 controls were recruited. The sample was matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. The tools used were the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination and the Brief Cognitive Rating Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients showed high cognitive dysfunction in the pre-dialysis group, in all the five dimensions (concentration, recent memory, past memory, orientation and functioning, and self-care), and the least in the 24-hour post dialysis group. This difference was found to be statistically significant (P=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with renal failure exhibited pronounced cognitive impairment and these functions significantly improved after the introduction of hemodialysis.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Dr. BRAMC, Bangalore, India.
authors: Rohini
authors: R
authors: Thimmaiah
authors: K Krishna
authors: KK
authors: Murthy
authors: Denzil
authors: D
authors: Pinto
keywords: Cognitive dysfunction; hemodialysis; renal failure; uremia