Bloom Jeffrey M, Mason John O, Mason Lauren, Swain Thomas A
Retina Consultants of Alabama, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
J Vitreoretin Dis. 2020 Aug 7;4(6):484-489. doi: 10.1177/2474126420936118. eCollection 2020 Nov-Dec.
This study investigates undiagnosed depression and anxiety related to diabetes in patients with diabetic retinopathy and identifies commonly feared complications that these patients experience.
The 74 consecutive individuals with diabetes were recruited for this investigation from the office of a retina specialist, and data were obtained from the participants through a self-report survey given to the patients before their appointment.
The most feared complication reported by patients surveyed was blindness (38.36%). When asked about depression and anxiety related to their diabetes, 20.27% of patients stated they have depression related to their diabetes, whereas 18.92% had anxiety related to their diabetes. Only 17.57% of the patients said they were being treated for their depression and/or anxiety at the time of the survey.
This study demonstrates that many patients with diabetic retinopathy have coexisting fears and mental health concerns. Because most retina specialists treat a high number of patients with diabetes, it is crucial to understand the barriers and comorbidities related to this patient population. Retina specialists may play a role in identifying the hidden and underlying fears, depression, and anxieties in patients with diabetes so that these patients can get the necessary help and counseling they need.
本研究调查糖尿病视网膜病变患者中与糖尿病相关的未确诊抑郁症和焦虑症，并确定这些患者常见的恐惧并发症。
从一位视网膜专家的诊所招募了74名连续的糖尿病患者参与本次调查，并通过在预约前向患者提供的自我报告调查问卷从参与者那里获取数据。
接受调查的患者报告的最恐惧并发症是失明（38.36%）。当被问及与糖尿病相关的抑郁症和焦虑症时，20.27%的患者表示他们患有与糖尿病相关的抑郁症，而18.92%的患者患有与糖尿病相关的焦虑症。在调查时，只有17.57%的患者表示他们正在接受抑郁症和/或焦虑症的治疗。
本研究表明，许多糖尿病视网膜病变患者同时存在恐惧和心理健康问题。由于大多数视网膜专家治疗大量糖尿病患者，了解与该患者群体相关的障碍和合并症至关重要。视网膜专家可能在识别糖尿病患者隐藏的潜在恐惧、抑郁和焦虑方面发挥作用，以便这些患者能够获得他们所需的必要帮助和咨询。
