Screening for psychological impairment in children with type I diabetes

Abstract EN

Background: Type 1 DM is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin- producing beta cells of the pancreas, it is typically diagnosed in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.

As a chronic disease, itis usually complicated with psychological challenges, aschanges induced by the onset of type (1) DM may bedetected at the biological as well as emotional level.

Guidelines recommend that psychological screening should generally be a routine part of diabetes management.

Aim of the study: This study investigated the role of routine psychological screening in helping diabetes children to obtain better health related quality of life and better compliance.

Methodology: It is a cross sectional study including 124diabetic children attending endocrinology clinic in National Institute of Diabetes from March 2011 till March 2012.

Full history taking and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview- Kid were carried after informed consent of the caregiver.

Results: As regards mood disorders, 4 (3.2%) children had MDD, 8 (6.5%) children had Dysthimia, 4 (3.2%) experienced suicidal attempts and no one had symptoms suggestive of hypomania.

Regarding eating disorders, 12 (9.68%) children suffered from symptoms suggestive of anorexia.

statistically highly significant difference between males and females was found regarding age (p= 0.000) and illness duration.

Conclusion: The term diabetes complications should encompass psychological ill health seen in the young.

Complication screening programs should include a mental health component, potentially with screening from the point of diabetes diagnosis.

The MINI- Kid has been widely used to diagnose depression in community- based adolescents.