Screening in Secondary Care

Abstract

(from the chapter) Secondary care institutions provide advanced treatment of diabetic patients whose health is threatened by a chronic course of diabetes or severe comorbidities. Elevated depressive symptoms and emotional distress are common in persons facing the advanced stages of diabetes, including its late complications. Depressive affect increases the risk for developing complications and vice versa, as suffering from complications increases the risk for elevated depressive symptoms. Therefore, secondary diabetes services specialized for treating microvascular and macrovascular complications have a particular responsibility to detect patients' emotional problems early and to properly address them. Integrating screening for emotional problems with appropriate treatment options is crucial for improving outcomes. A stepped care approach may meet individual patients' needs and be feasible in a busy clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)