Association of depression and diabetes

A new study by researchers in Charleston has identified independent factors that are associated with major depressive disorder in individuals with diabetes. For the study, information was gathered from the 1999 National Health Interview Survey, which was used to evaluate common factors in 1,810 diabetic Americans.

The researchers found that depressed individuals with diabetes, were found to have more primary care and emergency room visits, when compared to depressed non-diabetics. Depressed diabetics were also more likely to visit a psychiatrist or mental health professional though the pattern of visits to psychiatrists or mental health professionals did not differ by diabetes status. It was also found that diabetics who smoked, had poor health, and lived under a low economic status were all associated more closely with depression than non-diabetics. Diabetic females, or those under age 54, were also more likely to experience depression.