Psychological problems of the paediatric haemodialysis patient

Abstract

Many papers refer to DENIAL ^1-3 which shields a person from facing the severity of his problem and its apparent consequences. In some situations this is an adaptive process, especially in the early stages of a disorder as it may prevent a more serious and complete breakdown. Later it may become maladaptive because if the condition is not accepted, the patient may be prevented from making the right manoeuvres to cope with it. Sand et al. ⁴ say that people do best who discuss their anxieties openly and make no use of mental defence mechanisms which may make them inaccessible to such discussion. Villard⁵ found that adults under stress from dialysis polarize into two types. Some become passive and submissive while others over-compensate with optimism or euphoria.