Investigating the relationship between depression and social support in hemodialysis patients referred to educational Hospitals of Mazandaran Uuiversity of Medical Sciences in 2015

Depression, as an important factor in decreasing patient compliance of treatment, endangers patient health. Available social support also plays a role in vulnerability as well as his resistance power. This paper aims at determining the relation between depression and social support in hemodialysis patients in clinical trial hospitals of Mazandaran.
In a descriptive-correlative research, 230 hemodialysis patients were selected and investigated randomly who had the criteria of research. The tool was questionnaire divided into 3 sections consists of demographic characteristics, Beck depression questionnaire, and Brant & Winret social support questionnaire (PRQ 85).
Mean (± standard deviation) score of depression was 25.57 ±12.84. Mean (± standard deviation) of total social support was 127.97±19.16. There was a significant relationship between social support and depression in hemodialysis patients.
Our findings indicate the relation between social support and depression in hemodialysis patients. Regarding to high prevalence of depression in dialysis patients, social support can decrease depression and eventually help significantly with improving quality life of hemodialysis patients. Keywords: Depression, Social support, Hemodialysis, Iran.