Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Diabetes

Depression and anxiety are among the most important areas of research in various scientific fields. Severe depression and anxiety can aggravate different health conditions including diabetes. Therefore, individuals need to be informed about different preventive measures against anxiety and stress. This study was performed in order to identify stress and anxiety in type 2 diabetic patients and healthy individuals. In this descriptive study, the sample included 50 healthy individuals and 50 diabetic patients, referring to the Diabetes Clinic of Ardakan City during March-May 2014. The diagnosis of diabetes was confirmed by various laboratory tests, specialized physicians, patients’ medical history, and clinical signs. For data collection, 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and a demographic questionnaire were applied. After data collection and analysis, Cronbach's alpha for depression and anxiety was calculated to be 81%, 74%, and 78%, respectively. For descriptive and inferential analyses, t-test was performed, using SPSS version 19. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results indicated that male and female diabetic patients were not significantly different in terms of depression or anxiety. Also, no significant difference was found between normal and diabetic individuals regarding depression or anxiety. It seems that diabetic patients should pay particular attention to their psychological and emotional status, as well as their serum glucose level. Moreover, more attention should be paid to the symptoms of depression and anxiety in order to prevent the adverse side-effects.