Nephrologist (Kidney Specialist) Questions Chronic Kidney Disease

Can kidney disease cause depression?

My mother is suffering from chronic kidney disease and is also suffering from depression. Is it a normal phase in this disease?

5 Answers

Yes. Majority of the patients with advanced kidney disease get depressed. We try to encourage prayers and exercise to uplift them. Also they need a good social support system that keeps them happy
No, CKD usually doesn’t correlate with depression.

Namrata Sharma Goel, M.D.
It can be, depending on when she was diagnosed and the stage of her disease. If she was recently diagnosed, it can require lifestyle adjustments. She should also get an evaluation by her primary doctor and may need medication, too.
Yes, indirectly related.
It's associated.