Psychiatric disorders in juvenile patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The relationships of psychiatric characteristics to metabolic control and psychosocial functioning were examined in a group of 16 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (mean age: 14.3±5.1 years, mean duration of follow-up: 5.0±2.3 years) and psychiatric disorders. The comparison is also made to 69 IDDM controls (mean age: 17.0±6.7 years) without psychiatric disorders. Metabolic control was evaluated in terms of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Psychosocial functioning at both psychiatric treatment entry and discharge was assessed using the global assessment of functioning (GAF) scale. Subjects were divided into three subgroups — Somatoform Type (25%), Behavioral Type (50%) or Psychotic Type (25%) — according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition revised (DSM-III-R), based on semi-structured interviews. Four patients (25%) were diagnosed as having schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (Psychotic Type), which is rather rare. The mean HbA1c level in the Behavioral Type patients was significantly higher than in the other subgroups (P<0.01). After psychiatric treatment a significant difference (P<0.0001) in the GAF Scale was observed in the Psychotic Type compared with the other subgroups. We conclude that the Behavioral Type is associated with poor metabolic control and that for the Psychotic Type, improved psychosocial functioning can be achieved through psychiatric treatment.