Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 April 2020
It is often reported that patients with diabetes have increased risk of suffering from major depression (1). We wanted to study the frequency of depression in an special unit for diabetes at the University Hospital.
Fiftythree patients were recuited at this outpatient clinic. They were diagnosed using the structured clinical intervju MINI (2).
Of the 53 patients with diabetes, 12 (23%)had an ongoing depressive episode. In addition 8 patients had suffered from previous episodes of depression. Thus 20(38%) had a lifetime history of major depression. Of the 12 patients with an ongoing depression, 58% had a first degree relative with psychiatric disorder, in contrast to 33% in those with no history of depression.
The propotion of depressive disorders in patients with poorly regulated diabetes, is very high. An astonishing finding is the very high frequency of first degree relatives with affective disorders.
It may be speculated that diabetes and depression have some pathophysiological features in common (3).
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