Prevalence of Major Depression and Bipolar Disorders in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy in Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is the most prevalent disease in the world. It is in many cases associated with complications such as nephropathy. Like other chronic diseases, diabetes can be accompanied by mood disorders including depression. However, studies about the frequency of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder among diabetic patients are limited. In this research, we surveyed the frequency of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Methods: This cross-sectional research was performed on 250 patients with diabetic nephropathy in Isfahan, Iran during 2011. Beck Depression Inventory and Mood Disorder Questionnaire were used to assess depression and bipolar disorder, respectively. Data was analyzed with SPSS18. Findings: Males and females constituted 47.2% (n = 118) and 52.8% (n = 132) of the studied population, respectively. The frequency of depression was 84.8%. Moreover, 24% of the patients had bipolar disorder. The mean of hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level of depressed patients was significantly higher than non-depressed patients (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The prevalence of major depression is significantly higher in patients with diabetic nephropathy compared to the general population. This factor can have undesirable effects on follow-up and treatment of patients with diabetic nephropathy. Keywords: Major depressive disorder, Bipolar disorder, Diabetic nephropathy