Background: Depression in patients with diabetes is associated with poorer adherence and worse health outcomes, however treating depression may help improve these outcomes.
Objective: The present systematic review identified published papers to evaluate treatments for depression in patients with diabetes.
Results: Seventeen 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.
Conclusion: Evidence 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.
Copyright © 2011 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.