1Professor, Department of Community Medicine, KS Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), Mangalore
2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, KS Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), Mangalore
3Intern, Department of Psychiatry, KS Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), Mangalore
4Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, KS Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), Mangalore
Studies indicate that the compliance to diabetic treatment by people suffering from depression is very low. The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in diabetic patients and to correlate depression and anxiety with control of diabetes, duration of diabetes, medications and complications. A total of 100 patients attending KS Hegde hospital were interviewed and mental health status was assessed using the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety rating scale. It was found that 15% of patients had severe anxiety and 20% had mild to moderate anxiety. 3% had severe depression and 14% had mild to moderate depression. Among the patients with anxiety, the highest incidence of the complications like retinopathy, neuropathy and diabetic foot and ulcers were seen. Among the patients with depression, incidence of retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic foot and ulcers were high. Improving the mental health status as a part of a comprehensive management plan for diabetes may improve the long term outcomes of these patients.
Diabetes, anxiety, depression
