The role of affective temperaments in metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: In non-diabetic populations, anxious and depressive affective temperaments are associated with stress and distress disorders (anxious and depressive). In type 2 diabetes, distress with diabetes and distress disorders have been associated with metabolic control. There are few studies undertaken on temperament and metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of our study was to examine the independent association between affective temperaments and metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The sample included 90 patients with type 2 diabetes from two outpatient clinics aged 53.54 (SD +/- 8.05) years and with 66.7% female gender. Depression was evaluated by using the MADRS observer rating scale (mean value: 16.38 +/- 11). Results: Patients with excessive depressive and anxious temperaments had more depressive symptoms, worse psychological adjustment to diabetes and worse metabolic control. In logistic regression (crude model), only depressive temperament was independently associated with metabolic control. Conclusions: Affective temperaments are associated with psychological adjustment to diabetes and metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients above threshold on depressive temperament should be considered for greater scrutiny and psycho-education by the diabetes clinic staff. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.