Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: An Integrative Review.

PROBLEM

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a complex chronic condition that impacts physiologic and psychosocial outcomes in adolescents. Adolescents with T1D experience anxiety and depressive symptoms at 2 to 3 times the rate of the general adolescent population. Anxiety and depressive symptoms negatively impact disease management. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered the gold standard therapeutic technique for treating anxiety and depressive symptoms. The aim of this integrative review was to examine and synthesize the extant literature exploring the effect of CBT on physiologic and psychosocial outcomes in adolescents with T1D.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Electronic databases were searched with the terms "type 1 diabetes" and "cognitive behavioral therapy." Studies were included if they were published between 2000 and 2020, evaluated a pediatric population (≤18 years of age), and included individuals with diagnosed T1D.

SAMPLE

475 articles were identified in our initial search, and after removal of duplicates 353 articles remained. 339 did not meet inclusion criteria. A total of 14 papers met inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

All studies included CBT, but differed in delivery methods. Several studies demonstrated evidence of the feasibility and acceptability; however, there were mixed results regarding improvement of physiologic and psychosocial outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

CBT is a feasible and acceptable intervention in adolescents with T1D. It may be a method of improving psychologic and psychosocial outcomes for this high-risk population.

IMPLICATIONS

In adolescents with T1D, screening and treatment for psychosocial comorbidities should occur regularly at endocrinology visits. CBT can be operationalized to fill this gap.