This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing depression and anxiety in individuals with schizophrenia during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of providing evidence to support strategies for improving emotional disturbances during the pandemic.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 159 outpatients with schizophrenia between January and June 2023. Data were collected using a self-developed sociodemographic questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). Regression analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.0 to identify the factors associated with depression and anxiety.

Timeline cyclical and treatment control were significant predictors of depression among individuals with schizophrenia (R2 = 0.160, p < 0.01). Additionally, timeline cyclical and the presence of chronic comorbidities significantly predicted anxiety (R2 = 0.217, p < 0.01).

Illness perception concerning COVID-19 significantly influenced the severity of depression and anxiety in individuals with schizophrenia. Addressing these perceptions serves as an essential component of interventions aimed at improving mental health outcomes during the pandemic.

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a significant public health issue associated with reduced physical activity. This can lead to mineral and bone disorders and increased levels of inflammatory markers. One innovative solution that can significantly contribute to increasing patient motivation is the combination of physical training with virtual reality technology during haemodialysis sessions. The aim of this study is to comprehensively assess the impact of regular virtual reality-based physical activity on plasma sclerostin and interleukin 6 levels, as well as on physical performance and the level of physical activity in patients undergoing renal replacement therapy through haemodialysis. Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study. Patients included in the study were randomly assigned to two groups: the study group and the control group. The study group consisted of patients who were entrusted with the task of conducting training using the prototype of the NefroVR system. The duration of the study period for both the study and control groups was 3 months. Results: One hundred and two (102) patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease who underwent haemodialysis as a renal replacement therapy participated in the study. Patients from the study group were characterized by higher physical activity compared to the control group. There was a significant difference in the level of IL-6 and SOST between the study and control groups in the second measurement. Conclusions: Regular physical activity, especially using approaches such as virtual reality, contributes to improving physical fitness and overall activity levels in patients undergoing haemodialysis. The study demonstrated that regular exercise may be associated with a reduction in inflammatory parameters and positive effects on bone metabolism in patients undergoing haemodialysis.

Illness perceptions are the unique perspective individuals have on their illness, based on their context and experiences, and are associated with patient outcomes including coping and adherence. The purpose of this study was to explore characteristics that may be driving membership in illness perceptions cluster groups for adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

This study was conducted within the multicenter longitudinal Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. Cross-sectional data were collected and combined with CRIC data. Illness perceptions were measured using the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire. Clustering analysis was conducted in R, and bivariate analysis including linear regression was performed in STATA 16.

The sample (n = 197) had a mean age of 68, was 52% women, 53% non-White, and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 56 ml/min/1.73 m2. Three cluster groups were identified, labeled as "Disengaged" (n = 20), "Well-Resourced" (n = 108), and "Distressed" (n = 69). The "Disengaged" group was characterized by low CKD knowledge, many recent hospitalization days, and the lowest perceived CKD burden. The "Well-Resourced" group was characterized by the highest levels of education, CKD knowledge, optimism, and medication adherence. The "Distressed" group was characterized by the highest levels of depression scores, comorbidity burden, CKD burden, CKD symptoms, and lowest optimism. Group membership significantly predicted the number of hospitalization days in adjusted analyses.

Illness perceptions groups are associated with number of hospitalization days but are independent of many patient characteristics. Illness perceptions data could be used to tailor care for specific patients at risk for poor health outcomes.

Depression is one of the most common and important psychological issues faced by dialysis patients. It can make it more difficult for them to adhere to their treatment regimen, which, in turn, can worsen their physical symptoms and lead to poorer health outcomes.

To examine the evolution and growth of publications related to dialysis and depression. The objectives were to identify the number of publications, the top active countries, the contributed institutions, funding agencies and journals, as well as to perform citation and research theme analysis.

The search was conducted using the Scopus database for publications related to dialysis and depression between 1970 and 2022. Subsequently, bibliometric analysis was carried out on the data obtained using VOSviewer software, version 1.6.9. This analysis included visualization analysis, co-occurrence analysis and examination of publication trends in dialysis and depression.

We identified 800 publications that met the search criteria. The number of publications related to dialysis and depression has increased significantly in the past two decades. The USA led the way with 144 publications, which is 18% of all publications on this topic. Turkey came second with 88 publications (11%), followed by China with 55 publications (6.88%) and Iran with 52 publications (6.5%). Analysis of the research theme identified three main clusters related to gender differences in prevalence, identification of depression as a risk factor, and effective interventions to relieve depression. Future research direction analysis shows a shift toward effective interventions to relieve depression in dialysis patients.

This study provides a comprehensive overview of growth, trends and research themes related to dialysis and depression that could help researchers identify gaps in the literature and develop future research.

Depression is common among patients undergoing dialysis. However, there is a dearth of data on depression and its predictors among patients at different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study assessed the prevalence of depression and the relationships between depression and sociodemographic and clinical factors among non-dialysis CKD patients. A convenience sample of 88 CKD patients was recruited using a cross-sectional study design. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was used to assess the levels of depression among CKD patients, with a cutoff score of ≥11. Data on the sociodemographic factors and clinical factors were also collected. Inferential statistics were used to determine the characteristics of the sample and assess the prevalence and severity of depression. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the associations between the characteristics of the sample and depression. The overall mean BDI-II score was 6.23 ± 6.13. With a cutoff score of ≥11, patients with major depressive episodes constituted 18.2% of the sample. Stages of the disease, comorbidities, and sex were independently associated with a high depression score. The model explained 39% of the variation in the depression score. Depression is common among non-dialysis CKD patients. Screening for depression with brief validated tools should be integrated into routine clinical practice at renal clinics because patients in the advanced stages of CKD and those with multiple comorbidities require close attention. Furthermore, large studies assessing the prevalence and predictors of depression among different stages of CKD are required.