Psychiatry Research EG

Introduction Diabetes and depression are common comorbid conditions; yet, the causal relationship between these disorders, its direction, and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Certain neuroendocrine alterations such as activation of the hypothalamic– pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and presence of a proinflammatory state may contribute to the association. Methods A group of patients with comorbid DM type I and depression, a group with only DM type I, and a control group, each consisting of 30 patients, were matched and compared in relation to their BMI and biochemical profile in the form of fasting and 2-hour postprandial glucose, HbA1c, serum level of interleukin-6, and serum adrenocorticotrophic hormone levels (ACTH). Results IL-6 and ACTH levels were significantly higher in depressed DM patients, and were correlated to BMI and poor glycemic control. Conclusion The biochemical markers can be of importance in predicting depression in DM type I patients. Keywords: biochemical profile, depression, DM