Depressive disorders in type 2 diabetes – initial reports

Introduction
Diabetes patients experience burdens associated with adherence to treatment, self-control, and taking preventive measures against diabetic complications. These can contribute to the development of depressive disorders.

Aim of the study
To assess the occurrence and severity of depressive disorders and factors connected with them among diabetes type 2 patients aged 35-64 years.

Material and methods
The research was done with the use of a diagnostic survey method among 70 patients in the Metabolic Disease Department of the University Hospital in Krakow. The Beck Depression Inventory and the authors’ own interview questionnaire were used. Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistica 13.1, and p < 0.05 was the significance level.

Results
The average number of points in the Beck Depression Inventory was 12.81 (moderate level of depressive disorders). Greater severity of depressive disorders was present in people who were professionally inactive, who defined their monthly income as insufficient, who felt uncertainty after diabetes diagnosis, whose treatment included both diet and insulin intake, who had problems with foot care, and who did not follow the diabetes treatment principles. The respondents who declared lack of support from their spouses felt the impact of diabetes on their mental well-being and confirmed the need for help in connection with the disease and had increased levels of depressive disorders.

Conclusions
Due to the occurrence of depressive symptoms among diabetes patients it is necessary to conduct screening research for depressive disorders. It should be an indispensable element of the therapeutic team’s activities.