Abstract

Background: Patients with chronic health conditions such ascardiovascular problems, diabetes mellitus (DM), pulmonary disease and cancer are suffering psychological disturbances while struggling to manage their physical illnesses. This study was aimed at examining the relationship between DM and depression, anxiety and stress in the studied patients in Arar city, Northern Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted on Patients with DM, from the age of 12 years from both genders, attending the Diabetes Center at Prince Abdulaziz bin Musaed Hospital in Arar, Saudi Arabia, during the period from January 1st 2018 To March 30th 2018. Sample size for this study was 278 diabetic patients based on a sample size formula for cross-sectional study design.
Results: Our study showed that the prevalence reached approximately 45.6 % for anxiety, 18.7% for stress and 37.4 % for depression. Demographic variables of patients had varied effect on psychological wellbeing of patients. Female gender is more associated with depressive symptoms (71.2%, P value =0.043). It was found that depression and anxiety were significantly related to the patient’s age and lower educational level. Being unmarried was significantly associated with depression.
Conclusion: Our study showed that the prevalence reached approximately 45.6 % for anxiety, 18.7% for stress and 37.4 % for depression. Depending on the study results we recommend including the psychological aspects during evaluation of diabetic patients, more health education programs must be employed about the psychological and mental health of diabetic patients and enhancing the awareness among health care providers about the psychological complications of diabetic patients.
Key words: Depression, anxiety , stress , diabetes mellitus

Key words: Depression, anxiety, stress, diabetes mellitus