Stress management training for adolescents with diabetes

Evaluated the effects of stress management training (SMT) for adolescents with diabetes in a 9-month controlled treatment-outcome study. Nine patients were randomly assigned to a stress management group while another 10 patients served as controls and received standard outpatient treatment. The treatment program consisted of 10 sessions over 3 months, 3 additional sessions over 3 months, and a 3-month follow-up without treatment. Diabetes-specific stress decreased significantly for patients in the SMT group over the course of the intervention and follow-up. However, metabolic control, regimen adherence, coping styles, and self-efficacy about diabetes were unchanged. These findings suggest a SMT program for adolescents with diabetes may be helpful in reducing diabetes-specific stress, but additional procedures are necessary to improve adherence, coping styles, and metabolic control.