Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Decreasing Anxiety in an Elderly Female Patient Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Single-case Study

DOI

10.2991/iciap-17.2018.32How to use a DOI?

Keywords

anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapy, hemodialysis, kidney failure

Abstract

Personal loss, financial problems, decreasing responsibilities, and chronic disease increase the anxiety levels of individuals as they mature and reach late adulthood. Kidney failure is a chronic disease that is common among the elderly. Its treatment requires the long-term adaptation and lifestyle changes of the patient. Thus, patients with kidney failure often perceive that their disease will influence their future. This perception generates anxiety, which decreases the patient’s quality of life, consequently affecting treatment efficacy and worsening the patient’s physical condition. Given that high levels of anxiety influence the patient’s mental health and disturb medical treatment, the appropriate and timely handling of the patient’s medical and psychological issues is necessary. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an intervention that aims to change the patient’s perception of their disease. It aims to improve the patient’s physical strength and social skills, as well as promote healthy behaviors by providing disease-related psycho-education and strategies for cognitive restructuring, relaxation, and lifestyle management. The potential of CBT as a treatment for several mental illnesses, particularly depression and anxiety, has been investigated. This study aimed to identify the effects of CBT in a patient with kidney failure. The intervention consisted of nine 30 - 60 min sessions. The result of qualitative assessment through observation and interview indicated that the patient’s anxiety symptoms reduced in intensity. The patient began to control her anxiety and able to perform activities independently. She also re-engaged in her preferred activities and stopped focusing on her disease and limitations. This study suggested that intervention with CBT may decrease the intensity of anxiety symptoms.

Copyright

© 2018, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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TY  - CONF
AU  - C.S. Indah Gunarti
AU  - Lifina Dewi Pohan
PY  - 2017/09
DA  - 2017/09
TI  - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Decreasing Anxiety in an Elderly Female Patient Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Single-case Study
BT  - Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Intervention and Applied Psychology (ICIAP 2017)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 372
EP  - 380
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/iciap-17.2018.32
DO  - 10.2991/iciap-17.2018.32
ID  - Gunarti2017/09
ER  -