Stress, coping and psychopathology in Type 1 Diabetes
Conference Contribution ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Diabetes is associated with increased prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders. Disease burden-related stress and sub-optimal blood glucose control are generally accepted as the primary mediating factors. The extent of the prevailing psychopathology is contentious with previous cross-sectional studies reporting large variations. Furthermore, previous investigations have used self-report measures rather than clinical assessments of psychopathology. Additionally, studies of mood and anxiety disorders in non-Diabetes cohorts have shown a close association with increased psychological stress and maladaptive coping strategies however, little research has been conducted on the association between these factors in Diabetes. Regardless, comorbid mood and anxiety disorders in diabetes are associated with decreased self-care, sub-optimal metabolic control, and increased risk of complications. The aim of the present study was to quantify the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in participants with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using clinical assessment, and to compare coping strategies and perceived stress levels to non-diabetes controls. Procedure: The study employed a cross-sectional case-control design. Participants presented for a structured neuropsychiatric interview (MINI600) in which they were assessed for the presence of psychopathology according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Coping and perceived stress were assessed by self-report using the Perceived Stress Scale, Rhode Island Stress and Coping Inventory, and Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Results and discussion: Multivariate ANOVA found no significant differences between groups in either perceptions of stress or coping strategies (p=.497). Chi-square tests revealed a significantly higher prevalence of mood or anxiety disorder (p<.001, 60% vs 10%). Alcohol and/or substance misuse was also found to be higher in the T1D group (p=.002, 30% vs 11%). Other variables could not account for the differences in levels of psychopathology between participant groups. As many as 60% of individuals with T1D suffer from anxiety or depression at any given time however; sufferers do not appear to perceive that they are under higher levels of stress than those without the condition, nor do they report different coping strategies. The results suggest that neither disease burden-related psychological stress nor blood glucose control factors may be able to account for the high prevalence of comorbid psychopathology.
Journal
N/A
Publication Name
46th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society
Volume
N/A
ISBN/ISSN
978-0-909881-43-6
Edition
N/A
Issue
N/A
Pages Count
1
Location
Canberra, ACT, Australia
Publisher
Australian Psychological Society
Publisher Url
N/A
Publisher Location
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Publish Date
N/A
Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
N/A