Abstract

Background: Diabetes mortality is increased when accompanied with depression. Screening for depression is recommended by national and international authorities.

Aims & Objective: To have an estimate of the diabetic patients at risk of depression and to identify the risk factors for depression in diabetic patients.

Material and Methods: The study was designed as a cross-section design. Two hundred and three patients were selected by convenience sample. Diabetic patients of either sex, 18 years and older, new to the clinic or follow up were included. Mentally retarded patients or with psychiatric disease were excluded. An interview questionnaire was used for data collection. The two-item version of patients’ health questionnaire (PHQ-2) was used as a screening tool.

Results: Patients with PHQ-2 positive were constituted 45.8%. Depression was associated with female gender (p=0.049), long standing diabetes (p=0.035), insulin use (p=0.024), and with other medical comorbidities (p=0.006).

Conclusion: Although all diabetic patients are at risk of having depression, female gender, long standing diabetes, insulin use and having medical comorbidities are at higher risk.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, screening and depression