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Poor diabetes management linked to adolescent depression
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Adolescents whose type 1 diabetes is poorly managed are at increased risk for depression, according to recent study findings published in Pediatrics.
The study included 509 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years who received at least one depression screening during the first year. Researchers developed a self-administered electronic version of the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) to test feasibility of screening in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
They found that depression screening rates went from less than 5% to a median of 85% during the first 12 months. Eighty percent of participants had low-risk CDI scores vs. 12% with moderate scores. Poorer diabetes management was correlated with higher CDI scores.
Seven percent of participants reported suicidal ideation. Only five adolescents in the low-risk category reported suicidal ideation compared with 32 in the moderate- and high-risk groups.
“The described [quality improvement] initiative to implement routine depression screening for adolescents with type 1 diabetes addresses a significant gap between national recommendations and widespread clinical practice,” the researchers wrote. “Implications of this research are wide reaching as this process may serve as a model for integration of depression screening across a variety of clinical setting for youth with chronic health conditions.”
Disclosure: One researcher reports being a consultant for Fortis Spectrum Medical Education Group.
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