{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T05:20:21Z","timestamp":1787548821079,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787529600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Psychological challenges are common among patients starting peritoneal dialysis (PD), yet studies specifically exploring psychological well-being during PD initiation are limited. This qualitative pilot study aimed to identify the most frequent reasons prompting psychological referral among patients initiating PD at our center.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We conducted a thematic analysis of the twice-monthly\u00a0psychological support sessions involving 12 patients who were referred within the first 3\u2005months of PD initiation due to symptoms of anxiety and insomnia. Among them, 7\/12 were male, with a median age at PD initiation of 54\u2005years (Interquartile range [IQR] 43\u201361). PD was initiated because of stage V chronic kidney disease in 8\/12 patients, kidney transplant failure in 2\/12, and due to a switch from hemodialysis in 2\/12 patients.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The most frequently reported themes causing psychological suffering included non-acceptance of chronic disease, altered body image perception after peritoneal catheter placement, managing fluid restrictions, and travel-related anxiety (12\/12). Seven patients also expressed struggles with dietary adherence and the emotional burden of preparing for transplant evaluation. Additional concerns included non-acceptance of PD, task-anxiety, and fear of PD-related peritonitis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In conclusion, this study highlights the range of psychological difficulties experienced during the early phase of PD. These findings underscore the importance of proactively addressing these aspects during pre-dialysis counseling to better support the patients' emotional adaptation and treatment engagement.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/joneph\/aajag142","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]],"date-time":"2026-05-12T11:32:17Z","timestamp":1778585537000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Psychological challenges of patients starting peritoneal dialysis: a single-center qualitative pilot study"],"prefix":"10.1093","author":[{"given":"Marica","family":"Mul\u00e9","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Universit\u00e0 di Brescia , Brescia ,","place":["Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Diana","family":"Bertoni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia , Brescia ,","place":["Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-4375-4942","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martina","family":"Tedesco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Universit\u00e0 di Brescia , Brescia ,","place":["Italy"]},{"name":"Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia , Brescia ,","place":["Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2474-5897","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vincenzo","family":"Terlizzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia , Brescia 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