Factores psicosociales en la diabetes mellitus tipo 1 y su relación con el riesgo de desarrollar trastornos alimentarios en la infancia y la adolescencia

Introduction

Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) treatment involves lifestyle changes that can lead to classic eating disorders (ED) like anorexia or bulimia. However, there is a lack of evidence on the presence of ED and/or its relation with psychosocial characteristics of these subjects.

Objective

To estimate the number of subjects at risk of ED in a T1DM youth population sample using two different tools and to analyze its concordance, establishing the relations between anxiety, depression, quality of life and emotional-management, and the risk of developing ED.

Material and methods

The population studied consisted of 40 young subjects with T1DM and 40 control peers. To detect ED, EAT-26/ChEAT test for the general population and DEPS/R specific for T1DM was performed. Several characteristics such as depression, anxiety and peer-relationships were analyzed by self-administered validated tests.

Results

There is a great disparity in identifying ED in the T1DM patients on using the screening tool used. Thus, DEPS-R showed 40% more subjects at risk than the EAT-26 test. Obsessive behavior, social phobia, and peer-relationships and family-relationships were significantly associated with the risk of developing ED (P < .05 in all cases).

Conclusions

To properly identify ED in T1DM patients, it would be necessary to develop specific screening tools that take into account the lifestyle modifications undergone by these patients. In addition, to prevent the development of ED, these patients should be taught to efficiently manage social situations that could lead to anxiety and undesirable behaviors.