憂鬱對腎病末期病患不是一個新的問題，然而卻是病患最常見的情緒、心理社會 或精神問題而對病患身體產生綜合性的影響。接受不同治療方式的腎病末期病患之 憂鬱盛行率分別為血液透析治療者為 33.33％至 78.8％，腹膜透析治療者為 19％至 51.5％，和接受腎臟移植者為 20％至 45％。針對如此高的憂鬱盛行率，腎臟護理人 員宜採取相關護理介入措施，包括降低病患不確定感、提供社會支持、運動規畫與介 入和其他能降低憂鬱之措施以提升病患之改善生活品質。

Depression for End stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is not a new but is the most common type of emotional, psychosocial, and psychiatric problems, and has a broad impact on the patient’s physical function. The prevalence of depression among ESRD patients received alternative therapy ranges between 33.3% to 78.8% for hemodialysis, 19% to 51.5% for peritoneal dialysis, and 20% to 45% for renal transplantation. For such a high prevalence of depression, nurses of nephrology departments should provide intervention such as reducing the patient’s level of uncertainty, provide appropriate social support, develop protocol for exercise training, and musical therapy etc. to diminish depression and improve the patient’s quality of life.