Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x24gv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T18:54:43.559Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Psychological aspects of dialysis: a Semantic Differential study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Rosalind Clark*
Affiliation:
Claybury Hospital, Woodford Bridge, Essex, and the Royal Free Hospital, London
J. Donovan Hailstone
Affiliation:
Claybury Hospital, Woodford Bridge, Essex, and the Royal Free Hospital, London
P. D. Slade
Affiliation:
Claybury Hospital, Woodford Bridge, Essex, and the Royal Free Hospital, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Rosalind Clark, Claybury Hospital, Woodford Bridge, Woodford Green, Essex.

Synopsis

Twenty-one patients on The Royal Free Hospital dialysis programme and 21 control subjects were examined using the Semantic Differential. Results were analysed by the method of check-style analysis and by a comparison of concept profiles for the 2 groups using a multivariate analysis program.

A highly significant difference (p < 0·001) was found between the check-styles of dialysis and control groups. The implications of this finding are discussed.

Three concepts were selected for particular study: ‘my self’, ‘my ideal self’ and ‘people’. There were significant differences in profiles between the 2 groups on all 3 concepts.

Subgroup analysis showed further differences for sex, age and length of time on dialysis.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abram, H. S. (1969). The psychiatrist, the treatment of chronic renal failure and the prolongation of life: II. American Journal of Psychiatry 126, 157167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arthur, A. Z. (1963). Delusions; a theoretical, methodological and experimental study. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis: University of London.Google Scholar
Becker, G. (1970). Situational discrimination in repressor-type and sensitizer-type approval seekers and the birth order by sex interaction. Journal of Social Psychology 82, 8197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benel, D. C. R. & Benel, R. A. (1976). A further note on sex differences on the Semantic Differential. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 15, 437439.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harari, A., Munitz, H., Wijsenbeck, H., Levi, J., Steiner, M. & Rosenbaum, J. (1971). Psychological aspects of chronic haemodialysis. Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurochirurgy 74, 219223.Google Scholar
Kaplan de Nour, A. & Czackes, J. W. (1968). Emotional problems and reactions of the medical team in a chronic haemodialysis unit. Lancet ii, 987.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacMiller, P. (1974). A note on sex differences on the Semantic Differential. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 13, 3336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marks, I. M. (1965). Patterns of Meaning in Psychiatric Patients. Maudsley Monograph no. 13. Oxford University Press: London.Google Scholar
Osgood, C. E., Suci, G. J. & Tannenbaum, P. H. (1957). The Measurement of Meaning. University of Illinois Press: Urbana, Ill.Google Scholar
Pritchard, M. (1974). Meaning of illness and patient's response to long term haemodialysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 18, 457464.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed