Six Years’ Experience as a Psychosomaticist in a Hemodialysis Unit

Abstract

Based on 58 dialysis patients, the psychological aspects of the rehabilitation procedure are discussed; a distinction is made between ‘medical’ and ‘professional’ rehabilitation. We describe the psychic troubles of our dialysis patients and their chances in mastering them. The various degrees of professional rehabilitation in our patients and the psychological traits which are connected with these are commented on. On the basis of 10 dialysis patients, the psychological aspects of home dialysis are discussed; particularly, the differences between the psychological situation of center dialysis and that of home dialysis, as well as the psychological criteria for the suitability of home dialysis, are considered. Finally, there is a discussion of the difficult psychosomatic problems which will occur in dialysis centers and in home dialysis in the future.