A Preliminary Analysis of Individuals With Serious Mental Illness and Comorbid Diabetes

Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2016 Apr;30(2):226-9. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2015.11.004. Epub 2015 Nov 14.

Abstract

Objective: To understand factors related to managing illness in older individuals with serious mental illness (SMI).

Methods: Baseline data from 200 individuals with SMI and diabetes enrolled in a study were used to compare characteristics between older (age >55) vs. younger (age ≤55) individuals.

Results: Older individuals had better diabetes control compared to younger individuals, those with major depressive disorder had diabetes for a longer duration, worse diabetic control, and more emergency department encounters.

Conclusions: Helping younger individuals with SMI learn to manage their mental and physical health early-on might minimize the negative and cumulative effect of diabetes.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale / statistics & numerical data
  • Chronic Disease
  • Comorbidity
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged