The INTERPRET-DD study of diabetes and depression: a protocol.

AIM: People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing depression and other psychological disorders. However, little is known about the prevalence, correlates or care pathways in countries other than the UK and the USA. A new study, the International Prevalence and Treatment of Diabetes and Depression Study (INTERPRET-DD) aims to address this dearth of knowledge and identify optimal pathways to care across the globe. METHOD: INTERPRET-DD is a 2-year longitudinal study, taking place in 16 countries' diabetes outpatients' facilities, investigating the recognition and management of depressive disorders in people with Type 2 diabetes. Clinical interviews are used to diagnose depression, with clinical and other data obtained from medical records and through patient interviews. Pathways to care and the impact of treatment for previously unrecognized (undocumented) depression on clinical outcomes and emotional well-being are being investigated. RESULTS: Initial evidence indicates that a range of pathways to care exist, with few of them based on available recommendations for treatment. Pilot data indicates that the instruments we are using to measure both the symptoms and clinical diagnosis of depression are acceptable in our study population and easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: Our study will increase the understanding of the impact of comorbid diabetes and depression and identify the most appropriate (country-specific) pathways via which patients receive their care. It addresses an important public health problem and leads to recommendations for best practice relevant to the different participating centres with regard to the identification and treatment of people with comorbid diabetes and depression.

The association between quality of life, depressive symptoms and glycemic control in a group of type 2 diabetes patients.

AIMS: Several studies have demonstrated worse perception of quality of life (QoL) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of our study was to assess QoL in a clinical sample of patients with T2DM and its association with depressive symptoms and glycemic control. METHODS: One hundred outpatients from a sequential sample underwent clinical and psychiatric evaluation. The Problem Areas of Diabetes scale (PAID) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess, respectively, QoL and the presence of overall psychopathology. The levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were used as the main parameter of glycemic control. RESULTS: The perception degree of the QoL related with diabetes was associated with the severity of depressive symptoms (r=0.503; p<0.001), but not with HbA1c levels (p=0.117). However, the severity of general psychopathology, evaluated through the BDI scores, predicted the metabolic control, measured by HbA1c levels, among the patients in our sample (r=0.233; p=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, PAID was a valuable tool for the evaluation of QoL in T2DM and the screening of depressive symptoms. However, no correlation observed between PAID scores and HbA1c levels. Self-perception evaluation of T2DM patient can help to identify susceptible subjects to current depression.

Comorbidity of psychiatric disorders and symmetric distal polyneuropathy among type II diabetic outpatients.

The objective of the present study was to establish the frequency of psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of diabetic patients with symmetric distal polyneuropathy (SDPN). Sixty-five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected consecutively to participate in the study at Instituto Estadual de Diabetes e Endocrinologia. All patients were submitted to a complete clinical and psychiatric evaluation, including the Portuguese version of the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Neuropathy Symptom Score, and Neuropathy Disability Score. SDPN was identified in 22 subjects (33.8%). Patients with and without SDPN did not differ significantly regarding sociodemographic characteristics. However, a trend toward a worse glycemic control was found in patients with SDPN in comparison to patients without SDPN (HbA1c = 8.43 +/- 1.97 vs 7.48 +/- 1.95; P = 0.08). Patients with SDPN exhibited axis I psychiatric disorders significantly more often than those without SDPN (especially anxiety disorders, in general (81.8 vs 60.0%; P = 0.01), and major depression--current episode, in particular (18.2 vs 7.7%; P = 0.04)). The severity of the depressive symptoms correlated positively with the severity of SDPN symptoms (r = 0.38; P = 0.006), but not with the severity of SDPN signs (r = 0.07; P = 0.56). In conclusion, the presence of SDPN seems to be associated with a trend toward glycemic control. The diagnosis of SDPN in diabetic subjects seems also to be associated with relevant psychiatric comorbidity, including anxiety and current mood disorders.

Comorbidity of psychiatric disorders and symmetric distal polyneuropathy among type II diabetic outpatients

The objective of the present study was to establish the frequency of psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of diabetic patients with symmetric distal polyneuropathy (SDPN). Sixty-five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected consecutively to participate in the study at Instituto Estadual de Diabetes e Endocrinologia. All patients were submitted to a complete clinical and psychiatric evaluation, including the Portuguese version of the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Neuropathy Symptom Score, and Neuropathy Disability Score. SDPN was identified in 22 subjects (33.8 percent). Patients with and without SDPN did not differ significantly regarding sociodemographic characteristics. However, a trend toward a worse glycemic control was found in patients with SDPN in comparison to patients without SDPN (HbA1c = 8.43 ± 1.97 vs 7.48 ± 1.95; P = 0.08). Patients with SDPN exhibited axis I psychiatric disorders significantly more often than those without SDPN (especially anxiety disorders, in general (81.8 vs 60.0 percent; P = 0.01), and major depression - current episode, in particular (18.2 vs 7.7 percent; P = 0.04)). The severity of the depressive symptoms correlated positively with the severity of SDPN symptoms (r = 0.38; P = 0.006), but not with the severity of SDPN signs (r = 0.07; P = 0.56). In conclusion, the presence of SDPN seems to be associated with a trend toward glycemic control. The diagnosis of SDPN in diabetic subjects seems also to be associated with relevant psychiatric comorbidity, including anxiety and current mood disorders.

Effects of oral nutritional supplementation on the intestinal mucosa of patients with AIDS.

Weight loss is a major component of the clinical syndrome in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The impact of malnutrition on the outcome of the disease has been unappreciated in many investigations. The authors evaluated the effects of oral nutritional supplementation on the morphology and immunology of the intestinal mucosa of patients with AIDS. Twelve patients with AIDS without diarrhea or opportunistic infections, with at least 10% of body weight loss over 1 year, were submitted to anthropometric measures, peripheral blood T-lymphocyte counts, and peroral jejunal biopsy before and after oral nutritional supplementation. An industrialized peptide-based formula containing omega-3 fatty acids was given for 6 weeks. Jejunal samples were analyzed by histomorphometry, including villous-to-crypt ratio, lamina propria, and intraepithelial lymphocyte count. Immunologic assessment of the intestinal mucosa was made by indirect immunoperoxidase using monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4, and CD8. Seven patients with irritable bowel syndrome and two healthy volunteers were selected as a control group for histologic and immunohistochemical comparisons. After 6 weeks the patient group maintained their body weight and increased their tricipital fold. The number of peripheral blood T cells, albumin, transferrin, and the number of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells in jejunal mucosa as well as the intestinal morphometry remained stable. Oral supplementation contributed to maintaining body weight and may constitute a reasonable adjuvant therapeutic tool against AIDS progression.