Comparison of Psychological Adjustment to Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and Home Hemodialysis

Two groups of home dialysis patients (40 on CAPD and 37 on home hemo dialysis) matched for length of time on dialysis, and for demographic background were studied and compared. The CAPD patients were significantly more satisfied with the support received from household members and from spouses, more satisfied with the relations with spouses, more understood by them and more understanding of their spouses. Sexual satisfaction declined in both groups. However, sexual satisfaction was slightly higher in the CAPD group and these patients experienced slightly less difficulty in adjusting to the decline; none of these differences were statistically significant.