There is an ever increasing number of studies on the experience of pediatric patients suffering with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention with CBT in patients with chronic renal disease. The study findings are in the context of previous researches and existing theories. Searches were done in the professional literature related to different chronic diseases and respectively with Chronic Kidney Disease in children and adolescents. Many paediatric chronic diseases are difficult to be managed because of the limitations caused by the disease itself; consequently, some of them need to be subjected to painful and difficult medical procedures as well. Respectively, for children diagnosed with CKD life changes completely because of limitations, mainly physical ones, due to the characteristics of the disease which require constant adaption as well as development of strategies to face the disease. Their behaviours must change accordingly as part of a new life of self-care. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy is a psychological therapy, which has been investigated extensively and has been found as very effective to reduce psychological symptoms caused by the disease. This therapy integrates the modification of behaviour with the cognitive restructuring, the aim of which is to change the patient’s unhealthy behaviours through cognitive and behaviour techniques. Keywords: children; chronic kidney disease; cognitive behavioural therapy

The aim of this study was to present a better understanding of the illness, needs of patients with this type of pathology. Participants on the interview were 15 children and adolescents of age 11-15 years old diagnosed at “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center, Nephrology Department. To draw the study results it was used “Nvivo” software, where through a careful analyzing process were identified four key topics: Physical impact (medical treatment); psychological impact (anxiety, difficulties they face); impact on social relations (family, activities and relations with age mates); way of adaption (self belief, religious belief, multidisciplinary staff). The findings reveal the impact of the illness on the life of the patients all over the illness course. The main recommending of this study are based on deepened exploration of the patients’ perception of the illness setting up an appropriate program to support patients with chronic renal disease as well as their families.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), is an illness that causes grave and irreversible reduction of kidney function