Anxiety and depression symptomatology in adolescents with kidney disorders during transition: "perception of illness" and the "patient paradox"

This study investigates the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) during their transition from pediatric to adult care, aiming to identify predictors of psychological distress. The findings reveal that while a significant portion of the cohort experiences clinically significant anxiety, most report minimal depressive symptoms, with medication burden and female sex being key predictors of distress. Interestingly, the adolescents with CKD exhibited lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to their healthy peers, suggesting that structured transition programs may provide protective psychological support.