Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sağlık Yüksekokulu, GAZİANTEP

Objective: Loneliness can lead to depression though its affect on person's mental well-being. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between loneliness and depression levels of hemodialysis patients. Methods: One hundred patients who want to join study at two hemodialysis units between 12-31 June 2006 were included. Data were collected by using questionnaire forms, UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Analysis was done by using frequency, Pearson correlation test, Student t test, Anova, Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: There was a positive significant correlation between mean loneliness scores and depression scores in hemodialysis patients (r=0.432, p=0.000). The average BDI scores was found to be 21.8±11.6 whereas average ULS scores was 38.6±12.0. BDI scores was significantly lower at 18-37 age group than other groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Loneliness was found to be directly correlated with depression in h emodialysis patients.