Depressive Symptoms in Children of Women With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes
Rachael R. Irving, PhD; James L. Mills, MD, PhD; Eric G. Choo-Kang, MD; Errol Y. Morrison, MD, PhD; Rosemarie A. Wright-Pascoe, MD; Wayne A. McLaughlin, PhD; and Anthony M. Mullings, MD
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Objective: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic
disease with increasing prevalence. Individuals with
diabetes are at risk for long-term complications
such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and
cardiovascular complications. Additionally, several studies
have indicated that diabetes doubles the risk for
depression. Individuals with depression are also
said to be at greater risk for developing diabetes.
Studies have shown depressive symptoms to be
higher in children with diabetes than in those without
the disease. This study measured depressive symptoms in children without diabetes of women
with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes.
Method: Fifty children whose mothers
were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were assessed with the Children's Depression
Rating Scale, Revised (CDRS-R) to measure the
psychological impact of the mothers' newly
diagnosed diabetes on their children. This
cross-sectional study was conducted in public and private
clinics from April 2001 to June 2003.
Results: Sixty percent of children
(N = 30) whose mothers were recently diagnosed with
type 2 diabetes had CDRS-R scores consistent with likely or very likely having major depressive
disorders. Mean ± SD CDRS-R scores were highest in children of women with diabetes
affecting greater than or equal to 3 generations of
their families (68.2 ± 8.9, p = .02).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that
depressive symptoms are common in children of
women with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Severity
of depressive symptoms positively correlated with the number of generations of diabetes in the
family.
Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry 2007;9(1):21-24
https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.v09n0104
© Copyright 2007 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.