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Psychiatric Aspects of Diabetes Mellitus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

D. H. C. Surridge
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
D. L. Williams Erdahl
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University
J. S. Lawson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University
M. W. Donald
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Queen's University
T. N. Monga
Affiliation:
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Queen's University
C. E. Bird
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Queen's University
F. J. J. Letemendia
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University

Summary

A descriptive study of the psychiatric findings in 50 insulin—dependent diabetics is presented. Among the symptoms found were a marked reduction in energy level, increased fatigue and irritability, depression, and delayed psychosexual maturation. Diabetes mellitus is commonly considered to be a disease that, if properly controlled, allows the patient to lead a relatively normal life. We found, however, that these symptoms often made the patients' lives uncomfortable, reduced their functional capacity, disrupted their family life, and disturbed the adolescence of those who were affected at an early age.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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