Aim of the study:
The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression in Polish dialysis patients and assess the relations of depression with attitude toward illness.

Subject or material and methods:
107 patients undergoing dialysis (56 men and 51 women) aged 23-85 (M=56.63 years, SD=15.45) were diagnosed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.). They also filled out the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS).

Results:
Depressive disorders were diagnosed in 74 (69.2%) patients, including: a major depressive episode - 31 (29%), dysthymia - 30 (28%), and an episode of depression with melancholic features - 23 (21.5%). Only 23 (21.5%) patients met no criteria for a mental disorder in the M.I.N.I. There were statistically significant differences among mean scores in BDI in the following groups: depression with melancholic features (M=20.9, SD=9), a major depressive episode (M=18.08, SD=8), dysthymia (M=13.75, SD=6), and without depressive disorder (M=3.8, SD=3). There were statistically significant moderate correlations between intensity of depressive symptoms and acceptance of illness (r=0.5; p < 0.001).

Discussion:
Relation between intensity of depression and low acceptance of illness suggests that hemodialysis low mood is related to an increase in maladaptive attitude toward chronic kidney disease.

Conclusions:
A very high rate of prevalence of depressive disorders in dialysis patients was confirmed in the Polish population when a clinical structured interview was applied. It indicates that routine screening for depressive disorders in these patients is necessary.