Linking diabetic retinal changes with the occurrence of anxiety and depression in working population

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a severe complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) leading to vision loss and blindness, which typically develops 12-20 years after the diagnosis of DM. Anxiety and depression frequently co-occur with chronic medical conditions like DM and DR, impacting their onset, course, and prognosis. This study aimed to examine the link between anxiety, depression, DR, and macular changes.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinic for Ophthalmology, University Clinical Center Niš, Serbia, involving 80 adult participants, naïve to psychiatric and invasive ophthalmological therapy, divided into two groups: 40 patients with DR, and 40 healthy controls. Ophthalmic examinations, biochemical measurements, and assessments of anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were performed.

Results indicated that patients with DR had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to controls. The study found no significant correlation between HADS and MADRS scores with patients' gender, type of therapy, or the type of DR. However, a higher HADS and MADRS score was observed in patients with left-side OCT macular edema.

The study highlights the complex interaction between psychiatric disorders and somatic illnesses, emphasizing the need for comprehensive care strategies that address both physical and mental health to improve patient outcomes.