Depression in Dialysis Patients

Riding Rollercoasters: The ESRD QIP-Screening and Treating Depression in Dialysis Patients

In September 2025, Forum member David Henner, DO, and his colleague Kiana Gates, MSW, LICSW, NSW-C, presented a session entitled "Riding Rollercoasters: The ESRD QIP-Screening and Treating Depression in Dialysis Patients," at the Renal Healthcare Association's Annual Conference in September 2025. The session reviewed the ESRD Program and the current ESRD Quality Incentive Performance (QIP) Measures, with a focus on depression screening. They explored how to update processes in the dialysis facility to incorporate screening ESRD patients for depression, how to track and trend depression screening in EQRS and review in dialysis facility Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) meetings, and reviewed strategies to address depression affecting patients in the dialysis facility.

This presentation can be viewed on the RHA website.

The ASCEND Study

In 2022, the Forum received a grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to disseminate Evidence Updates related to the ASCEND Study, “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy versus Sertraline for Depression in Patients with Kidney Failure Receiving Hemodialysis,” also funded by PCORI. Here are the activities undertaken by the Forum to disseminate the Evidence Updates:

Webinar (January 5, 2023)
"Perspectives: Treating Depression in Dialysis Patients" (MP4)
Webinar Slide Deck (including resources)
Webinar Q&A

Podcast (in conjunction with NKF):
Depression and Dialysis- Reviewing the ASCEND Study (CEs available)

Patient-perspective Article
"How Do the ASCEND Study Findings Help Us as Dialysis Patients?"
Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, April 18, 2023

To learn more about the ASCEND study, you can download the Evidence Updates from the PCORI website:
For Clinicians:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy versus Sertraline for Depression in Patients with Kidney Failure Receiving Hemodialysis
For Patients:
Treating Depression When You’re on Dialysis

To learn more about treating depression in dialysis patients, download this toolkit:
KPAC Dialysis Patient Depression Toolkit