A program to reduce onset distress in unselected type I diabetic patients: effects on psychological variables and metabolic control.
This paper reports the results of a prospective controlled trial of a program addressing reduction of onset distress and better future adaptation in adults who were enrolled at the time of diagnosis of type I diabetes mellitus. Patients were assigned randomly to either standard intensive treatment and patient education with the distress reduction program (N = 10) or to standard intensive treatment and patient education without this program (N = 13). Prospective follow-up of patients with multiple validated measures of treatment outcome showed less anxious coping behavior, less depression and less denial at the 9-month follow-up and less denial at the 15-month follow-up in the group with the distress reduction program, but no differences in metabolic control between the two groups at any time. We conclude that our program has a positive impact on the crisis at diabetes onset; the lower denial in the treatment group may lead to improved regimen adherence in the long term.
Spiess
K
K
Institute of Medical Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Sachs
G
G
Pietschmann
P
P
Prager
R
R
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin