Psychiatric Comorbidity among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background The co-occurrence of psychiatric conditions and diabetes mellitus is frequently observed. This coexistence manifests in various ways, leading to a diminished quality of life, heightened healthcare expenses, reduced treatment compliance, suboptimal blood sugar control, and an upsurge in visits to the emergency room. Objective To evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes at a specialized medical center. Method We conducted a cross-sectional study, enrolling eligible type 2 diabetes patients who sought outpatient services. To evaluate the cognitive and emotional aspects of their illness, we employed the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and ICD-10 guidelines. Convenience sampling method was used and 200 patients were included in the study. Their socio-demographic profile, presence of depression, and other psychiatric illnesses were studied. Result Among the total screened type 2 diabetes patients, 200 eligible individuals were included in the study. Depression emerged as the most prevalent psychiatric comorbid condition, affecting 30.5% of the patients. Notably, depression rates were slightly higher in female patients and those over 50 years of age. Furthermore, individuals with longer diabetes durations displayed a greater prevalence of depressive episodes, followed by other psychiatric illnesses. Conclusion A noteworthy proportion of diabetic patients exhibited comorbid psychiatric conditions. Depression was the most common among diabetics followed by other psychiatric illnesses. The presence of neuropsychiatric illness was commonly seen in diabetics at a later age of life, peaking after 6th decade.