A Pilot Study of a Video Cognitive Behavioral Intervention in Spanish and English for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

This study presents a slide-based video cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-informed psychoeducational intervention for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. The intervention addresses the lack of mental healthcare interventions for CKD patients, who experience disproportionate mental health challenges. The intervention is available in English and Spanish. The intervention includes four modules on the following: 1. depression; 2. anxiety; 3. locus of control and social support; and 4. treatment adherence, each with exercises. The intervention was tested with a sample of 45 CKD and ESKD patients, including individuals with CKD not receiving hemodialysis (HD) and individuals with ESKD receiving HD. Results showed a statistically significant within-participant reduction in PHQ-9 scores from pre- to post-intervention. The intervention did not yield significant pre- to post- changes in patients’ anxiety or locus of control. Associations between treatment adherence and depression, anxiety, locus of control, social support, and resilient coping were not statistically significant after applying the Bonferroni correction. Participant feedback was positive; they identified breathing exercises as the most helpful component, followed by medication adherence strategies, and referenced family members as supports. These preliminary results show that this CBT-informed intervention may have the potential to address depression in CKD/ESKD patients.