[Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Comorbid Mental Disorders - Is there a Psychotherapeutic Undertreatment? - Results of the DiMPS Study].

Aim of the study: Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased likelihood of mental disorders, especially depression. Despite a frequently postulated underprovision, the actual need for psychotherapeutic treatment in this patient group has hardly been investigated. The aim of this study is to analyze the care situation of diabetes patients with mental comorbidities in Germany.

Methods: 240 consecutively treated patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were examined cross-sectionally and longitudinally in a tertiary diabetological center. After a screening and diagnostic examination, 94 patients with comorbid mental disorders were included in the study. Patients then decided on the treatment of their mental disorder according to a standardized shared decision-making process. At the 6-month follow-up, 77 of the 94 patients (81.9%) provided information about the realization of their treatment decision and the obstacles they encountered.

Results: 39.2% of patients with diabetes had a mental disorder. Of these, 44.2% were already receiving psychotherapy or medication. After six months, 46.8% were able to implement their treatment decision. Only 7.1% did not receive any treatment despite their efforts. The 6-month follow-up showed a significant reduction in diabetes-related distress (PAID; p<0.05) and an increase in psychological well-being in all subgroups, regardless of treatment initiation (WHO-5; p<0.05).

Discussion: Contrary to the widespread notion of a lack of access to psychotherapy for people with diabetes and mental disorders in Germany, this assumption could not be confirmed in this study.

Conclusion: Equating the frequency of mental disorders with the need for psychotherapeutic and/or psychopharmacological treatment without considering the specific treatment needs and preferences of patients may lead to an overestimation of the need for care.