Depressive symptoms and disorders in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Although a significant number of patients with diabetes suffer from depression or diabetes-related distress, majority of them remain undiagnosed and untreated. This treatment gap suggests the need for routine screening for depression and distress in patients with diabetes. Studies have confirmed that treatment focussing on diabetes may alleviate depressive symptoms. Diabetes-specific psychological interventions may prove useful in improving diabetes self-management in depressed diabetes patients. Effect of specific psychopharmacological and psychological interventions in treating depression in diabetes patients should be examined in future studies.