title: Depression and subjective quality of life among outpatients with diabetes mellitus at a teaching hospital in Nigeria.
abstract: Objective To determine the relationship between depression and the subjective assessment of quality of life (QoL) in a sample of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) attending outpatient clinics at a regional university teaching hospital in Nigeria.Methods A cross-section of 200 patients were administered the depression module of the Schedule for the Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment - brief version (WHOQoL-Bref) over a two-month study period.Results A major depressive disorder (MDD) was diagnosed in 30% of patients. MDD was significantly associated with lower mean scores on the facets of overall QoL (p<0.01) and health satisfaction (p<0.01), but not in the domains of physical health (p=0.67), psychological health (p=0.59), environment (p=0.70), or social relations (p=0.58) of the WHOQoL-Bref.Conclusion Depression is associated with a poorer subjective assessment of QoL among DM patients in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Clinical Services, Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bawo O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Olufemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Morakinyo
authors.forename: George O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Eze
authors.forename: Ambrose O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Lawani
authors.forename: Joyce O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Omoaregba