Psychiatry Research EG

Objectives Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem that is increasing in prevalence in developing countries. Few studies have documented the rates of psychiatric symptoms and the quality of life in Egyptian patients with diabetes mellitus and there is limited clarity between them. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the frequency of psychiatric disorders and the quality of life in both types of diabetes mellitus and to examine the correlation with demographic and clinical variables. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess 60 diabetic patients who were seeking treatment at the endocrinology outpatient clinic. The assessment included general and neurological evaluation as well as laboratory investigations to exclude other organic diseases. Finally, the selected patients were subjected to the MINI-Plus, HDS, HAS, and WHO-QOL 100 scale. Results The study revealed that anxiety disorders and depression were the most common primary psychiatric diagnoses. Meanwhile, adjustment disorders and hypochondrias were the most frequent comorbid psychiatric diagnoses among diabetic patients. In addition, it was found that diabetes control was the most significant predictor of anxiety, depression, and poor quality of life in both groups. Conclusion The increased frequency of psychiatric morbidity among diabetic patients raises the need for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Keywords: diabetes mellitus, Egyptian sample, psychiatric disorders, quality of life