Psychiatric care of the patient with diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an increasingly prevalent and complex chronic illness with significant psychosocial and psychiatric ramifications. Stress and psychiatric illness can contribute to the development of the disease itself,1 via neurohormonal pathways and the side effects of psychiatric medication treatment, and psychiatric symptoms and disorders are prevalent and can have profound effects on the disease course of diabetes.2 Thus, there is a pressing need for integration of general medical care and psychiatric care for the diabetic patient in order to improve quality of life and illness outcomes. © 2010 Springer-Verlag US.