Denial in Dialysis Patients: Relationship to Compliance and Other Variables

Abstract

Denial has been documented as an important defense mechanism in helping the chronically ill cope with their disease. With respect to a dialysis population, however, the role of denial has been ambiguous. The physiological and psychological correlates of denial were studied in a dialysis population. The relationship between use of denial and compliance to fluid restrictions was examined. Subjects were 46 self- and limited-care dialysis patients. From this subject pool 2 groups were derived, based upon weight gains between treatments: compliers (15) and noncompliers (16). Both physiological and psychological data were correlated with denial as measured by the Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Denial is used a great deal in dialysis patients but there was no difference in denial scores between compliers and noncompliers. For compliers, denial was correlated with more adaptive attitudes toward illness. The results have implications for the clinical management of dialysis patients.