Depressive symptoms and associated factors among renal-transplant recipients in China

This study aimed to explore depressive symptoms and associated factors among renal-transplant (RT) recipients in China. This study included 287 RT recipients. Data were collected from August to November 2014 by utilizing demographic forms, namely, the Self-rating Depression Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Descriptive statistics, Student's t test, Chi-square test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. More than half of the recipients presented depressive symptoms. All recipients in the four transplant period groups (≤5 yr, 5–10 yr, 10–15 yr, and >15 yr) reported greater depressive symptoms than the Norm. No significant difference was observed in the depressive symptoms in the four transplant period groups. Multiple linear regression indicated that depressive symptoms were significantly associated with employment status, economic burden, inhabitation area, and social support. Depression is common among RT recipients in China. Employment status, economic burden, inhabitation area, and social support are the main factors affecting depression among RT recipients. Follow-up clinics should prescribe the evaluation of depression as a routine examination for RT patients. Moreover, depressed recipients must be provided with individualized care by collecting information on the depressive symptoms, employment status, economic burden, inhabitation area, and perceived social support of recipients.