Psychological profiles in patients receiving maintenance dialysis: Classification, correlates, and behavioral health outcomes

This study identified psychological profiles based on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, positive affect, and posttraumatic growth in 298 patients receiving maintenance dialysis, and examined their relationships with self-management at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Five psychological response profiles were identified: <i>well-being</i> (42.95%), <i>resilient</i> (26.17%), <i>moderate-distress-with-growth</i> (17.79%), <i>distressed</i> (11.07%), and <i>high-distress-with-growth</i> (2.01%). Patients were more likely to be in the <i>distressed</i> profile if they were younger, had less social support, received peritoneal dialysis, and suffered from a greater symptom burden of kidney disease. The <i>well-being</i> profile showed better self-management behavior at baseline and 1-year follow-up. The <i>distressed</i> profile was associated with worse self-management at baseline and the <i>resilient</i> profile was associated with worse self-management at follow-up. The findings highlighted the beneficial role of positive psychological constructs in promoting self-management behavior, which implied that beyond eliminating psychological distress, it is important to facilitate positive psychological well-being.