Psychotherapy in patients with poorly controlled type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes

We studied a group of 9 poorly controlled type 1 diabetic patients who were referred to the metabolic ward for a 10-day intensive patient education and treatment period and followed thereafter for 1 year. The psychodynamically and phase-specifically oriented intensive psychotherapy was prescribed. In terms of mental coping ability assessed by an index constituting the attitude towards diabetes, the family support and the expectations from the psychotherapy, the final outcome was classified as good or moderate in 7 of 9 patients. The complexities of different personality characteristics and their interaction with metabolic control are issues that require further exploration.