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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Alan J. Christensen

Selected Works

End stage renal disease; psychological factors; distress; patient nonadherence; treatment; adjustment; coping behavior; behavioral medicine; morbidity & mortality

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Psychological Factors In End-Stage Renal Disease: An Emerging Context For Behavioral Medicine Research, Alan Christensen, Shawna Ehlers May 2002

Psychological Factors In End-Stage Renal Disease: An Emerging Context For Behavioral Medicine Research, Alan Christensen, Shawna Ehlers

Alan J. Christensen

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a chronic, life-threatening condition afflicting over 300,000 Americans. Patient nonadherence and psychological distress are highly prevalent among ESRD patients, and both have been found to contribute to greater morbidity and earlier mortality in this population. A range of factors have been examined as potential determinants of adherence and adjustment. Evidence suggests that adherence and adjustment are maximized when a patient's preferred style of coping is consistent with the contextual features or demands of the renal intervention the patient is undergoing. Challenges for future clinical research include refining methodologies for the assessment of depression and adherence, …