The effect of interpersonal therapy–based counseling on illness adjustment and depression levels in individuals undergoing hemodialysis treatment: A randomized controlled trial

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of interpersonal therapy (IPT) based counseling on adjustment to illness and depression levels in individuals undergoing hemodialysis treatment. The randomized controlled study was conducted between March and September 2025 with 48 individuals receiving treatment at the hemodialysis center of a university hospital. Participants were assigned to an intervention group (n=24) or a control group (n=24) using simple randomization. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the Chronic Illness Coping Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). These instruments were administered at baseline, in the first week after completion of the counseling/intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. The intervention group received IPT based counseling once a week for 8 weeks, with each session lasting an average of 45 minutes, while the control group continued to receive routine care. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, independent-samples t tests, paired t tests, mixed-design analysis of variance, and Cohen's d effect sizes. The intervention and control groups were similar in terms of age, gender, education, income, and duration of disease; significant differences were observed only for alcohol use and number of hemodialysis information sources (p<0.05). Mean BDI scores in the intervention group decreased significantly across the three measurement times (p<0.001). In the control group, a significant decrease was observed between baseline and the second measurement, and between the first and third measurements (p<0.001). The reduction in BDI scores in the intervention group that received IPT based counseling showed a large effect size. Total and subscale scores (physical, psychological, and social adjustment) on the Chronic Illness Coping Scale were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at the second and third follow-ups (p<0.05), with moderate to large effect sizes. Mixed-design analysis of variance indicated significant changes over time in all variables and a statistically significant group × time interaction (p<0.001). These findings demonstrate that IPT based counseling is an effective intervention for reducing depression and enhancing adjustment to illness in individuals undergoing hemodialysis. The counseling process supported individuals in recognizing difficulties related to grief and loss, role changes, interpersonal conflict, and social isolation, in expressing their emotions more openly, and in developing effective coping skills. The results suggest that consultation-liaison psychiatric nursing can play a key role in strengthening psychosocial care in hemodialysis treatment centers through the implementation of IPT based counseling. Keywords: Psychiatric Nursing, Illness Adjustment, Depression, Interpersonal Therapy, Renal Dialysis, Hemodialysis