Depressive symptomatology in adults with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus has a strong association with the presence of depression. Depression occurs at high rates among individuals with diabetes mellitus and several studies suggest that diabetes doubles the risk of depression. The rate of complications in diabetic patients might be increased with comorbid. Authors aimed to assess the severity of depressive symptoms in adult diabetic patients using Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]. This descriptive study consisted of 88 diabetic patients [age 23-72 years] attending the diabetes outpatient center of Derna, Libya from June 2008 to December 2008. Depressive symptoms were measured by using the Beck Depression Inventory, Arabic version [Ibrahem and Alansary, 2001]. The mean age of patients was 52.18 +/- 13.7 years, 59.1% were males. Severe depression score was diagnosed in 16 [18.2%]; moderate depression score in 36 [40.9%]; and mild/ normal depression score in 36 [40.9%] of diabetic patients. More men than women with diabetes reported symptoms of severe to moderate depression [61.5% vs. 35.7%, P < 0.01]. A significant association was found between depression and complications of diabetes [r = 0.29, P < 0.01]. All patients with severe depression score [18.2%]; had retinopathy and neuropathy complications. The prevalence of depression in Derna diabetics is high. There is growing recognition within the medical community that depression has a strong influence on health outcomes. Screening for depression in patients with diabetes is recommended

Psychological impact of chronic liver diseases in children

Care of children with chronic liver diseases is an important part of general practice. While the emphasis of management has traditionally been on the biomedical aspects of ill health categorized by specific medical diagnoses, other dimensions such as psychological manifestations may be important. To describe anxiety and depression in children suffering from chronic liver diseases. This case control study was conducted from January 2008 to December 2008 at outpatient clinic at Alwahda hospital, Derna-Libya. It included 350 children with ages ranging from 6 to 16 years with chronic liver diseases in addition to 700 children matched in age and sex with a rate 2 to 1 from school children of the same areas used as a control group. All children were subjected to full medical history, clinical examination and psychometric measures [I.Q by Goodenough -Harris, Anxiety Scale [CAS] and Depression Inventory [CDI]. The mean score values of IQ in children with chronic liver diseases was significantly lower than controls [82.6 +/- 10and 97.4 +/- 8, respectively, P<0.001] and the mean score values of CDI and CAS in children with chronic liver diseases [82.6 +/- 10, 13.3 +/- 6.4] were significantly higher than controls [11.2 +/- 3, and 7.6 +/- 2.6, P<0.001]. Chronic illness management offers a challenge to general practitioners to take on an expanded generalist role. Important psychological manifestations may be neglected and proposed case management reforms are a stimulus to reappraise the role of general practitioners in chronic liver illness and disease care