title: A psychological support program for individuals with Type 1 diabetes.
abstract: We aimed to test the effects of a psychological support program on the psychological distress, mood, and quality of life of well-educated individuals with type 1 diabetes. A newly developed support program was offered to 60 patients with type 1 diabetes on intensive insulin treatment, previously enrolled in group-care educational programs. Thirty-three subjects participated (experimental group, in groups of 8-12 subjects); 22, who postponed their entry, were used as controls. The program consisted of 7 weekly work sessions of 2 hours chaired by a psychologist and covered aspects of daily living with diabetes using role-playing, metaplan, and problem solving. At baseline and approximately 6 months later, all participants completed a battery of questionnaires, and the differences between the experimental and the control group were analyzed by repeated-measurements ANOVA. In response to the psychological support program, subjects in the experimental group reduced their depressive mood (Beck Depression Inventory and depression scales of the Psychological Well-Being Index) and anxiety (Self-rating Anxiety Scale), improved disease-specific quality of life (Symptom and Well-Being scales of the Well-Being Enquiry for Diabetes), increased their internal and decreased their external locus of control. These changes were accompanied by a 0.3% decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin, whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group (ANOVA, P = 0.032). These results underline the importance of psychological aspects in individuals with type 1 diabetes; treating the psychological aspects related to the disease may be as important as medical control in order to improve living with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Metabolic Diseases and Clinical Dietetics, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti, 9, I-40138, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forlani
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nuccitelli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caselli
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moscatiello
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzotti
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Centis
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchesini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin