May 23, 2018, 1:00pm – 2:00pm EDT

Depression: the overlooked complication of kidney disease

Living with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure can take a toll on not only your physical health, but your mental health, too. Many patients express feeling hopeless and helpless as their kidneys stop working. Although it may not be spoken about as much as other complications, depression is very common among people with kidney disease.

black woman on couch worried

But struggling with depression does not need to be every kidney patient's reality. Treatments are available for depression, and there are proven ways of coping with and managing the disease. One of the first steps towards better mental health is knowing the signs of depression, and being able to spot it in yourself or others.

Our speaker, Dr. Cukor, specializes in mental health and depression in those facing kidney disease. Dr. Cukor will discuss:

  • The causes of depression
  • The ways to recognize depression
  • The reasons people with kidney disease have higher rates of depression
  • Treatments and coping methods for depression

Speaker

Daniel Cukor

Daniel Cukor, PhD

Daniel Cukor, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, NY where he has the roles of researcher, clinician, and educator.  Dr. Cukor received his doctorate in Clinical Health Psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School.  He has a long-standing interest in the psychosocial needs of patients with kidney disease and has written many articles and chapters on the mental health needs of patients with kidney disease. His current projects include depression, pain, sleep, anxiety and the adherence behaviors of patients with renal disease.