Psychological Support
Like any chronic illness, end- stage chronic kidney disease, carries a significant psychological burden for the patient. This burden arises from the awareness that the disease is not curable, except through kidney transplantation, which is not an option for everyone, and even for those eligible, it involves a path of restrictions and risks that leads to a state of persistent, subconscious anxiety.
Entering a long-term hemodialysis program often triggers varying degrees of anxiety to the patients. These may sometimes be well hidden by the patient or, at other times, manifest as outbursts of anger and feelings of frustration due to dependence on the hemodialysis machine. Anxiety symptoms can take the form of sleep disturbances, including insomnia, expressions of anger and aggression either towards family members or the Unit’s staff, and even refusal by the patient to accept their condition, sometimes leading to refusal of treatment.
This psychological strain and anxiety are often followed by depression, which unfortunately shows a high prevalence among hemodialysis patients. Depression symptoms are frequently confused with those of kidney failure, which delays the timely diagnosis of the mental disorder and, consequently, its treatment. This dramatically affects the patient’s quality of life while increasing both morbidity and mortality.
Therefore, the presence of an experienced Psychologist in the Hemodialysis Unit is considered essential and invaluable. The primary goal is to provide psychological support and counseling to help the patient adapt as smoothly as to their new reality, as well as the timely diagnosis and treatment of any mental health disorders.
An experienced Psychologist can help the patient self-manage the challenges of their new daily life with a positive approach, effectively handling any negative emotions and ultimately achieving a better quality of life.
However, the psychological support is not limited to the patient alone but also extends to their close environment, as kidney disease can also cause psychological strain on family and loved ones. Socioeconomic problems within the patient’s close environment may further exacerbate and reinforce the patient’s mental health issues. Through proper counseling, family members, relatives, and friends can also adapt to the new reality and contribute to improving the patient’s mental well-being.
The medical and nursing staff at Nefrontida, always standing beside the hemodialysis patient with empathy and sensitivity, are trained to recognize early signs of psychological distress. They often become the first to hear the patient’s concerns and worries, providing reassurance and support. However, specialized assessment and psychological counseling of the patient are considered absolutely essential.
To this end, Nefrontida collaborates with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Aliki Oikonomidou, offering comprehensive psychological support to both the patient and their family.
Dr. Aliki Oikonomidou (PhD, MSc) is a Registered Clinical Psychologist (Reg. No. 555) holding a doctoral degree (PhD in Sciences of the Mind) from the University of Italy, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli.” She earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (MSc Clinical Psychology) from the European University Cyprus (EUC), a Master’s degree in Health Psychology (MSc Health Psychology) from University College London (UCL) and King’s College London (KCL), and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (BSc Psychology) from the University of Manchester (UoM). She completed most of her practical training at the Psychiatric Clinic of the General Hospital of Nicosia and the Therapeutic Community "Agia Skepi." At the Psychiatric Clinic, she conducted a large number of therapeutic interventions and gained clinical experience with a wide spectrum of mental health disorders. At "Agia Skepi," a psychological substance dependency rehabilitation program, she helped users confront their addiction and worked to equip them with the necessary skills for social reintegration. At the Psychiatric Clinic, she conducted a large number of therapeutic interventions and gained clinical experience with a wide range of mental health disorders. At "Agia Skepi," a psychological substance dependency rehabilitation program, she helped users confront their addiction and worked to equip them with the necessary skills for social reintegration.
In 2019, she worked at the “Association for the Prevention and Management of Domestic Violence” (SPAVO) as an officer for the “Help Line 1440” and as the psychologist for the intervention program for perpetrators of domestic violence, “PROTEAS.” For a long period (2012–2018), she coordinated and implemented national and European programs, successfully representing her organization at various European and national conferences and meetings. She is also an advocate for animal welfare.
