A Review of Treating Depression in Diabetes: Emerging Findings

BackgroundDepression in patients with diabetes is associated with poorer adherence and worse health outcomes, however treating depression may help improve these outcomes.ObjectiveThe present systematic review identified published papers to evaluate treatments for depression in patients with diabetes.ResultsSeventeen studies that met criteria were identified, indicating that psychosocial interventions, particularly cognitive-behavior therapy, anti-depressant medications, and collaborative care are effective in the treatment of depression in patients with diabetes.ConclusionEvidence for the efficacy of these interventions in improving glycemic control was mixed. No study targeted adherence to treatment or health behaviors in addition to depression, which may be necessary to maximize improvement in diabetes outcomes such as glycemic control.