Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Collaborative Care Models of the Patient with Renal Disease

There is a high prevalence of psychiatric illness in patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but despite this, comorbid psychiatric illness is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, leading to an increase in both morbidity and mortality. Collaboration between psychiatrists and nonpsychiatric physicians and other clinicians can assist in the recognition and management of comorbid psychiatric conditions in patients with CKD, whether when admitted to hospital with systemic illness or in ambulatory settings (consultation-liaison psychiatry), or in primary care. Collaborative care – mental health and other medical professionals working together to share the responsibilities for different parts of the care plan according to their respective skills and resources – can enhance the recognition and management of comorbid psychiatric illness in both specialist clinics and primary care.