Background: Chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis are associated with significant psychological complications, particularly anxiety and depression, which adversely affect patients' quality of life. Given the limitations of pharmacological treatments, complementary interventions such as reflexology and acupressure have attracted increasing attention. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of reflexology and acupressure on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Methods: This single-blind, three-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2024 at the hemodialysis centers affiliated with Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences. A total of 96 eligible patients were randomly assigned to three groups: reflexology, acupressure, and control. The interventions were administered three sessions per week for four weeks. Data were collected using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Findings: The findings showed that both interventions significantly reduced anxiety and depression over time (P < 0.05). For anxiety, the effects of time and the time × group interaction were significant, whereas the main effect of group was not significant. For depression, the effects of time, group, and the time × group interaction were all significant. The acupressure group demonstrated the greatest reduction in depression scores.
Conclusion: Reflexology and acupressure gradually improved the psychological status of patients undergoing hemodialysis. These effects may be associated with modulation of the autonomic nervous system and attenuation of the stress response. Given their safety, low cost, and ease of implementation, these interventions may be considered complementary therapies alongside standard care for patients undergoing hemodialysis.