NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF INDIVIDUALS WITH END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE

Individuals (N = 24) being treated for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were compared to healthy control participants (N = 20) on measures of neuropsychological, physical, and psychosocial functioning, ESRD patie nts scored significantly lower than controls (p < .03) on Trail Making Test-Part B; 37.5% of ESRD patients were classified as impaired versu s 15% of controls. ESRD patients scored lower than controls on SF-36 m easures of Physical Functioning (p < .001). Psychosocial deficits were on the Affect Balance Scale (p < .04) and in employment (p < .04). Th e hypotheses that neuropsychological status would be associated with p sychosocial differences in terms of decrements in both affect and empl oyment rates were also supported. Mediational analysis suggested that neuropsychological status plays a role in the lower employment rates s een among ESRD patients. Clinical and research implications are discus sed.