Introduction
anger, Anxiety, chronic kidney disease, anxiety, kidney disease, CKD, ESRD, psychiatric, depression, helplessChronic kidney disease, depressive disorders
NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE, KIDNEY DISEASE, CHRONIC DISEASES, DISORDERS, END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE, EVENTS, ESRD
Anxiety is one of the common psychiatric symptoms in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) treated with hemodialysis (HD). Apart from anxiety, depressive disorders also often appear. Symptoms of anxiety and depression occur in 50% of patients receiving renal replacement therapy using hemodialysis, and the frequency of their occurrence is higher than in other chronic diseases. In addition, 12–52% of patients also experience anxiety during the dialysis itself. Both the symptoms of anxiety and depression significantly deteriorate the quality of life in these patients, contribute to the occurrence of problems in social, family and work life, also increase the mortality rateVirtual Reality (VR) is a term used to describe interactive computer-generated simulations that resemble real objects and events. The effect of the VR system as a supplement to rehabilitation is based on user interaction with simulated environments and receiving real-time feedback. Thanks to this, the performance of repeated functional actions is ensured, which facilitates the learning of motor functions. The use of VR gives the opportunity to change the environment and cut off the user from sounds and images that negatively affect the person's mood. Virtual Reality programs are widely used in the treatment of balance and coordination disorders, improvement of mobility and gait in the course of neurological diseases. Few studies on rehabilitation in a group of people with chronic kidney disease have been found in the literatureChronic kidney disease (CKD) and long-term dialysis make these patients anxious about being less in control of their own health. Emerging serious health problems contribute to the development of negative emotions in the form of anger, dissatisfaction, and disappointment. Moreover, the patients have a problem with accepting the situation, and the anxiety about their well-being after each dialysis makes them feel helplessChronic kidney disease and the frequency of dialysis reduce and limit physical activityThe aim of the study was to assess the relationship between regular physical exercises performed with the use of virtual reality and the occurrence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in the group of patients treated with renal replacement therapy by hemodialysis.