Research in Medicine

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Background : Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic metabolic disease. Optimal management of psychiatric problems, especially depression, may lead to better control of blood glucose levels in diabetics. Unfortunately, depression is usually neglected in medical diseases. We evaluated the prevalence of depression using a simple test, (Beck test), to screen for depression in diabetics.

 Material and methods : One hundred known diabetic patients were evaluated for the presence of symptoms of depression using the Beck Questionnaire. Age, marital status, sex, duration of diabetes, type of diabetes, and history of taking antidepressants were recorded.

 Results : Based on Beck test, depression was discovered in seventy eight percent of diabetics. There were significant differences between depressed and non-depressed individuals regarding sex, complications of disease, duration of diabetes and age (p<0.005, p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.005, respectively).

 Conclusion : Our findings revealed high prevalence of depression symptoms among diabetic patients. Considering the conventional simple therapies for depression, proper screening among diabetics seems to be necessary.

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Background: Depression is prevalent health concern in patients with unstable angina. Mild depressive symptoms could increase the risk of cardiac mortality after unstable angina. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the symptoms of depression in patients with unstable angina. Materials and methods: For this descriptive study, 100 patients with unstable angina (49 females and 51 males) who have been hospitalized in teaching hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were included. Depression was evaluated by means of Beck test. Chi square was used for data analysis. Results: Depression was found in 71% of the subjects 21% severe depression, 35% moderate and 15% mild depression. Times of admission were significantly more in depressed patients. Meanwhile, female subjects showed further susceptibility to depression. Conclusion: Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of depressed subjects who had suffered from an acute coronary heart disease may substantially reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.

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Background: Epilepsy is the most prevalent chronic nervous disease among general population prevalence of depression among these patients is twice that of individuals suffering from other disabling diseases. However, depression is often undiagnosed in these patients or treated partially, leading to serious consequences. The present study was designed to asses the prevalence of depressive symptoms and risk factors related to depression in epileptic patients, Materials and methods: The present study is a descriptive research. 97 epileptic patients referred to the hospitals affiliated with the Shaheed Beheshti University were evaluated by Beck Inventory and a demographic questionnaire. Results: Beck inventory revealed that 51.6% of epileptic patients, (with generalized tonic clonic epilepsy), suffered from mild and moderate depression. There was a significant relation between depression and the following variables: occupation, educational level, economic status and residential place (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggested a high rate of depressive symptoms among epileptic patients most of them had not received optimal treatment. Considering the fact that depression is amenable to treatment, screening and timely diagnose is useful and important.