Metabolic imbalance in affective disorders.

Introduction: Depression is the most frequent mental disorder encountered in all medical services. Multiple studies have shown that depression may predict the onset of different conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and many other. The relation between depression and diabetes is still unclear.

Materials And Methods: In this study we evaluated patients with both major depressive disorder and type 1 or 2 diabetes, and observed the evolution of depressive and diabetes symptoms under adequate treatment. This observational, naturalistic study included 43 patients admitted in a psychiatric ward of "Alexandru Obregia" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 or 2. All patients received antidepressant and antidiabetic treatment.

Results: The majority of patients were women (60.5%), and the mean age was 49.7 years. Average hospitalization period was 23 days, with longer period of hospitalization of patients with DM type 1. Patients had severe depression. Mean value of fasting glycemia at admission was of 174 mg / dl, but it decreased at discharge, in paralel with the amelioration of depression.

Conclusions: The depression associated with DM type 1 is more severe. These patients require higher doses of antidepressants and longer hospitalization period. Amelioration of depression seems to have a positive impact on the blood sugar level of depressed patients with diabetes.