Assessment of depression and death anxiety level in diabetic patients in Eskisehir, Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine the levels of depression and death anxiety in diabetic patients and to examine the relationship between depression and death anxiety. The current study is a descriptive study carried on diabetic patients having inpatient treatment in the Internal Diseases Service of Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty Hospital, between 2 January and 29 June 2012. The hospital anxiety and depression scale and Templer death anxiety scale are used, respectively, for the assessment of depression and anxiety and the assessment of death anxiety level in this study. Thirty-two patients (40.0 %) are male and 48 patients (60.0 %) are female. Of the patients, 51.2 % (n = 41) and 36.3 % (n = 29) are determined to have depression and anxiety, respectively. Death anxiety level is determined to be higher in women and the ones at primary school level and below (p < 0.05 for each). A positive relationship is found between disease level and death anxiety level (rs = 0.239; p = 0.033). A positive relationship is found between anxiety level and death anxiety level of the ones in the study group (rs = 0.256; p = 0.022). Death anxiety and depression are important medical problems in diabetic patients. It was seen that death anxiety increases as long as anxiety level and period of disease increase. It will be useful to perform psychiatric consultations of patients at certain intervals and to treat the ones at high depression and death anxiety levels.