Examining the potential influence of diabetes on depression and anxiety symptoms via multiple sample confirmatory factor analysis

Abstract

Background Assessing and diagnosing depression and anxiety in the presence of diabetes is complicated by overlapping symptoms that, therefore, are etiologically ambiguous (e.g., fatigue, appetite disturbance, autonomic arousal). Purpose The goal of the current study is to test whether overlapping symptoms are affected by the presence of diabetes by comparing structural models of symptoms in adults with and without diabetes. Methods Participants include 226 adults with diabetes and 380 healthy adults who completed questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and health status. The most recent hemoglobin A1c lab result was obtained for diabetes patients. Results Multiple sample confirmatory factor analyses indicated that overlapping symptoms were strongly related to mood disturbance for adults with and without diabetes, suggesting that symptoms were not substantially influenced by diabetes. Conclusions It is recommended that when overlapping symptoms are present in diabetes patients, depression and anxiety should be considered as possible contributors to their presence. © The Society of Behavioral Medicine 2011.