Stability of an empirical psychosocial taxonomy across type of diabetes and treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the study were (i) to examine whether an empirical psychosocial taxonomy, based on key diabetes-related variables, is independent of type of diabetes and treatment, and (ii) to further establish the external validation of the taxonomy.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, 82 patients with Type 1 and 86 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus were assigned to one of three psychosocial patient profiles based on their Multidimensional Diabetes Questionnaire (MDQ) scores. General psychological and diabetes-specific measures were obtained through self-report and HbA(1c) was measured.


RESULTS
Equal proportions of Type 1 and Type 2 patients, and of patients using insulin and oral medication/diet only were classified within each of the three psychosocial profiles. External validation confirmed the validity and distinctiveness of the patients' profiles. The patient profiles were independent of demographic variables, body mass index, duration of diabetes, complexity of treatment, number of complications, social desirability, and major stress levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The Psychosocial Taxonomy for Patients with Diabetes provides a new way to categorize individuals who may have more in common than just their type of diabetes and/or its treatment and can help target interventions to individual patients' needs.
Nouwen
A
A
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. a.nouwen@bham.ac.uk
Breton
M-C
MC
Urquhart Law
G
G
Descôteaux
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology / Q000145:classification*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin