Impact of treatment of depression on quality of life among diabetic patients with depression

Background: Depression is one of the commonest neuropsychiatric disorders in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Diabetes with depression is associated with a low quality of life (QoL). Complications in DM and depression still remain poorly identified and inadequately treated. But treatment of depression among DM patients is almost totally ignored and the QoL is poor. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 100 type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients diagnosed with clinical depression (ICD-10) at a tertiary care hospital. They were treated for depression along with DM medications and followed up till 6 months was assessed by WHO Quality Of Life (WHOQOL) – BREF scales. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in overall WHO QOL scale from 5.96±1.23 at baseline to 6.71±1.15 at 6 months (P value < 0.001). Among various domain, the mean Physical health domain was 17.72±2.281 at baseline, which has improved to 25.56±3.367 at 6 months follow up and the mean Psychological domain score was 16.32±2.174 at baseline and has improved to 22.64±2.343 at 6 months follow up. Conclusion: QoL is a domain of major importance and it affected in patients with DM and depression. Treatment of depression in DM patients is almost ignored. In the current study, treating depression in DM patients enhanced the quality of life (P value < 0.001). Hence diagnosis and treatment of depression in these patients is particularly important in order to reduce complications and improve quality of life.