Homocysteine, cortisol, diabetes mellitus, and psychopathology.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the association of homocysteine and cortisol with psychological factors in type 2 diabetic patients.


METHODS
Homocysteine, cortisol, and psychological variables were analyzed from 131 diabetic patients. Psychological factors were assessed with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire (HDHQ), the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL 90-R), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZDRS), and the Maudsley O-C Inventory Questionnaire (MOCI). Blood samples were taken by measuring homocysteine and cortisol in both subgroups during the initial phase of the study (T0). One year later (T1), the uncontrolled diabetic patients were reevaluated with the use of the same psychometric instruments and with an identical blood analysis.


RESULTS
The relation of psychoticism and homocysteine is positive among controlled diabetic patients (P value = 0.006 < 0.05) and negative among uncontrolled ones (P value = 0.137). Higher values of cortisol correspond to lower scores on extraversion subscale (r(p) = -0.223, P value = 0.010). Controlled diabetic patients showed a statistically significant negative relationship between homocysteine and the act-out hostility subscale (r(sp) = -0.247, P = 0.023). There is a statistically significant relationship between homocysteine and somatization (r(sp) = -0.220, P = 0.043).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the notion that homocysteine and cortisol are related to trait and state psychological factors in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.
1st Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece ; University Mental Health Research Institute, 11527 Athens, Greece.
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Kontoangelos
1st Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece ; University Mental Health Research Institute, 11527 Athens, Greece.
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Papageorgiou
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, 12462 Athens, Greece.
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Raptis
Hellenic National Center for Research, Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications (HNDC), 10675 Athens, Greece.
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Tsiotra
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, 12462 Athens, Greece.
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Lambadiari
1st Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece.
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Papadimitriou
University Mental Health Research Institute, 11527 Athens, Greece.
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Rabavilas
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, 12462 Athens, Greece.
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Dimitriadis
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, 12462 Athens, Greece ; Hellenic National Center for Research, Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications (HNDC), 10675 Athens, Greece.
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Raptis
D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011599:Psychopathology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006710:Homocysteine; D006854:Hydrocortisone